1  &str\T- 
I  _ 

(3-,     '^V^x^A. 


NEGRO  POEMS,  MELODIES, 

PLANTATION  PIECES, 
CAMP  MEETING  SONGS,  ETC. 

BY 

WILLIAM  C.  BLADES 


BOSTON 
RICHARD  G.  BADGER 

THE   GORHAM    PRESS 


COPYRIGHT,  1921,  BY  WILLIAM  C.  BLADES 
All  Rights  Reserved 


Made  in  the  United  States  of  America 
The  Gorham  Press,  Boston,  U.  S.  A. 


CONTENTS 


The  Old  Shore  Road 13 

Mammy  and  Me 15 

Ring  that  Bell .16 

What  You  Gwine  to  Do? 16 

Send  that  Chariot  Down 17 

On  the  Road  to  Charleston 18 

Where  the  Cotton  Used  to  Grow 19 

Rabbit  in  the  Pot 20 

The  Old   Steamboat 21 

Lily  Snowdrop 22 

The  Minstrel  Man 22 

Mistah  Jones '23 

Old  Jim  Crow .  24. 

That's  Why  I  Want  to  Go  There 25 

Fiddlin'  Joe 26 

Bury  Mah  Banjo  by  Mah  Side 27 

The  Old  Colored  Minister 28 

Way  Down  South  in  Georgia 29 

The  Chariot  Ford 30 

The  White  Angels    . '31 

Bullfrog  Pone 32 

The  Nigger  and  the  Mule 32 

The  Wild-Eyed  Coon 33 

Hard  Times  Come  Again  No  More 34 

Jonah  and  the  Whale 34 

The  Placard        35 

Nigger  Gin 35 

The  Darky 36 

That  Houn'  Dawg 36 

Totin'  Along 36 

Oh,  Lord,  Not  Me 37 

5 


470151 


Contents 


Ante-Bellum         37 

The  Cake  Walk 38 

Southern  Lullaby 39 

Pompey's  Plea 4° 

Then  You'll  Come  Back  to  Dixie 40 

Cornfields 41 

Befo'  de  Wah 4^ 

What  Foh  I  Dunno 43 

Serenade .     .  44 

Dinah         44 

Dinah  Mine .  45 

Mandy's  Party 46 

Aunt  Jemima 47 

Shufflin'  Feet 48 

When  I  Get  Over  the  River 48 

Uncle  Tom 49 

Folk  Song 50 

The  Poor  White  Man 51 

Possum  Pie 52 

The  Grinning  Nigger  Man 52 

I'm  There 53 

The  Darky's  Prayer 54 

Old  Black  Joe 55 

We'll  All  Go  to  Heaven  When  We  Die   .     .      .     .  56 

When  the  Lord  Say  Come 58 

The  Darky  Drum  and  Fife  Corps 59 

While  Jordan's  in  the  Way 60 

Canaan 60 

Push  Dem  Clouds  Away 61 

Christmas  am  a  Comin' 62 

The  Breakdown 63 

Dem  Shoes 64 

The  Old  Mule's  Tail 64 

The  Good,  Good  News 65 

The  Song  of  David 66 

Something  for  the  Blues 66 

Dixie  Far  Away 68 

Refrains 68 

Glory         69 

Satan  and  the  Sheep 70 

'6 


Contents 


Hot  Corn 71 

When  You  Get  Back  to  Dixie 72 

The  Old  Black  Mule 73 

Spindles 75 

Lickin'  the  Goat 7$ 

Gracious  How  that  Chile  Done  Grow      ....     77 

Lamenting  the  Corn 77 

Mammy,  I  Love  You 78 

The  Gentlemen  of  the  Bones •     79 

The  Mississippi        80 

Angel,  Sound  that  Trump 81 

Don't  You  Want  to  Go  Along 8x 

The  Golden  Stair 8* 

Down  upon  the  Levee 83 

Ragtime 84 

Rastus  Johnson's  Idyl  to  His  Mule 85 

Doing  the  Best  He  Can 87 

When  the  Coons  All  Come  Around 87 

Glory!    Hallelujah! 88 

Mandy 89 

The  Nigger 89 

A  Real  Good  Time 90 

Take  That  Fiddle  Along 91 

Gwine  Away  for  Christmas 92 

The  Parson's  Sermon 93 

The  Cotton  Fields  of  Georgia 94 

Right  Away 95 

The  Fiery  Furnace 9$ 

Pickaninny  Pompey 97 

Rastus  Johnson 98 

The  Pickaninny  Band 98 

That  Old  Fly 99 

The  Liability 100 

The   Menu 100 

Balm  of  Gilead 101 

The   Alligator  101 

The  Banjo 102 

Brush  Dem  Tears  Away    .  102 

When  the  Golden  Trumpets  Sound 103 

Rastus'  Fate 103 

7 


Contents 


The  Whang-doodle  Band 104 

Rastus  and  His  Banjo 105 

Massa's  Gone  Away 106 

Slavery   Days 106 

Melon  Time  in  Georgia 107 

The  Steamboat  Ride 108 

The  Orders 109 

My  Ruby  Red  Rose no 

Dixie  So  Dear in 

My  Pretty  Creole  Belle 112 

Foah  O'Clock  in  the  Morning .113 

If  Chickens  Were  Crows 115 

Chickens 116 

The  Eagle  and  the  Rooster 116 

Down  in  Georgia 117 

Juba 119 

Gwine   to  the   Ball 119 

Gwine  to  See  My  Gal 120 

Niggering  Around 121 

The  Hornet  and  the  Bee 121 

The  Two  Masters 123 

Haul  that  Woodpile  Down 124 

No  Moon  To-night 125 

Good  Bye,  Liza  Jane 126 

Did  You  See  Me 127 

The  Chariot  Man 128 

When  I  Get  There  That  Day 129 

Keep  that  Chariot  Rolling 130 

Old  John  Brown 131 

Down  on  the  Old  Plantation 132 

The  Mule 133 

Living  High 134 

Refrains 135 

Dem  Golden  Bells 135 

Sinia 136 

The  Hallelujah  Train 136 

Where  is  My  Dinah? 137 

'Possum  Juice 138 

Come  Along,  Chillun 139 

The  Promis'  Lan> 139 


Contents 


What  Are  You  Doing  Up  There? 140 

Elijah,  Ring  that  Bell 141 

Pharaoh 142 

All  Right,  Moses,  I'll  Be  There 142 

Forty  Acres  and  a  Mule 143 

Caroline 144 

The  Judgment  Morn 145 

The  Darkies'  Jubilee 145 

Roll  on,  Jordan,  Roll 146 

Dixie  Darky  Land 147 

When  the  Sun  Goes  Down 148 

Dinah,  Come  with  Me 149 

My  Little  Black  Eyed  Chloe 149 

Where  the  Woodbine  Grows 150 

Mandy's  Soliloquy 151 

The  Old  Banjo 152 

Songs  of  Dixie 153 

A  Plaintive  Melody 153 

The  Sunflower 154 

Hoe  Cake  Song 155 

The  Weddin'  Gown 156 

The   Catfish   Fry 157 

When  Massa  Blows  that  Horn 158 

The   Roosting 'Roosters 159 

The   Golden   Crown 160 

When  the  Tide  Turns  Round 161 

The  Hoe  Down 161 

The  Roustabout 162 

When  the  Wash  am  Out 163 

Diamonds 164 

The  Old  Mewl 165 

Moonlight 165 

The  Sun  Do  Move 166 

The  Colored  Children's  Catechism 167 

When  the  Steamboat  Comes  Along 168 


NEGRO  POEMS,  MELODIES, 

PLANTATION  PIECES, 
CAMP  MEETING  SONGS,  ETC. 


THE  OLD  SHORE  ROAD 

The  old  shore  road  is  shady 

And  the  old  shore  road  is  cool, 
And  often  I  stop  by  the  wayside 

When  driving  my  old  black  mule; 
And  on  my  way  to  heaven 

When  heavy  is  my  load, 
The  Lord  Almighty  done  take  me 

Along  the  old  shore  road. 

This  old  mule  that  I'm  driving 

He  go  up  many  a  hill, 
And  long  he  tug  on  the  traces 

And  pull  with  a  right  good  will; 
But  now  he's  in  the  stable 

And  empty  is  my  load, 
For  the  Lord  above  done  take  me 

Along  the  old  shore  road. 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


And  the  air  is  like  a  garden 

And  the  air  is  pure  and  sweet, 
And  my  legs  are  getting  rested 

And  my  shoes  don't  hurt  my  feet; 
And  I  travel  on  delighted 

Without  a  whip  or  goad, 
For  the  Lord  done  make  it  easy 

Along  the  old  shore  road. 

I  watch  the  big  white  breakers 

Come  rolling  on  the  shore, 
But  they  can't  harm  this  nigger, 

Whose  days  are  nearly  o'er; 
Along  life's  lingering  highway 

I  am  on  to  that  abode, 
Where  the  Lord  done  say  my  place  is 

Along  the  old  shore  road. 

I  know  they  call  this  heaven 

The  milk  and  honey  land, 
Where  the  Lord  am  gwine  to  meet  me 

And  take  me  by  the  hand; 
But  all  I  want  in  heaven 

Is  a  place  to  rest  my  load, 
And  a  place  to  drive  my  mule  in 

Along  the  old  shore  road. 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


MAMMY  AND  ME 

Whose  face  is  smiling 
When  her  face  I  see, 

No  one  but  Mammy 
Mammy  and  me. 

Who  sees  the  flower 
The  sky  and  the  tree, 

No  one  but  Mammy 
Mammy  and  me. 

Who  sings  the  songs 

Of  the  wind  and  the  bee, 

No  one  but  Mammy 
Mammy  and  me. 

Who  calls  me  black 
As  I  laugh  in  my  glee, 

No  one  but  Mammy 
Mammy  and  me. 

And  who  sleeps  together 

Who  can  it  be, 
But  this  pickaninny 

And  Mammy  and  me. 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


RING  THAT  BELL 

Ring  that  bell  Elijah 

And  open  wide  the  door, 

Oh  ring  that  bell  Elijah 

And  ring  that  bell  once  more. 

I  want  my  folks  to  hear  it 
I  want  my  folks  to  know, 

There  is  a  place  to  go  to 

And  the  bell  tells  where  to  go. 

Oh  ring  that  bell  Elijah 
And  open  wide  the  door, 

Oh  ring  that  bell  Elijah 

And  ring  that  bell  once  more. 


WHAT  YOU  GWINE  TO  DO 

What  you  gwine  to  do,  dear  friends, 

What  you  gwine  to  do, 
When  the  Lord  his  flaming  angel  sends 

And  asks  your  soul  of  you; 
And  if  your  soul  is  not  prepared 

To  meet  the  judgment  too, 
What  you  gwine  to  do,  dear  friends, 

What  you  gwine  to  do. 
16 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 

What  you  gwine  to  do,  dear  friends, 

What  you  gwine  to  do, 
When  all  the  graves  give  up  their  dead 

Before  your  frightened  view; 
And  when  the  Lord  appears  on  high 

In  all  his  anger  too, 
The  Lord  have  mercy  on  your  soul 

For  what  you  gwine  to  do. 


SEND  THAT  CHARIOT  DOWN 

Lord  my  soul  is  waiting 
Soon  the  trump  will  sound, 

Lord  don't  keep  me  waiting 
Send  that  chariot  down. 

Send  that  chariot  down  Lord 
Send  that  chariot  down, 

Lord  don't  keep  me  waiting 
Send  that  chariot  down. 

I  saw  a  big  white  angel 
The  angel  made  a  sound, 

I  know  it  brought  the  message 
Send  that  chariot  down. 

And  when  the  day  is  breaking 
And  when  the  day  rolls  round, 

You  will  find  me  waiting 
Send  that  chariot  down. 

17 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


ON  THE  ROAD  TO  CHARLESTON 

On  the  road  to  Charleston 

I  met  a  darky  coon, 
Driving  on  to  Charleston 

Beneath  a  summer  noon; 
He  whistled  and  he  shouted 

These  snatches  of  a  tune, 
Upon  the  road  to  Charleston 

Beneath  the  summer  noon. 


I  started  out  this  morning 

To  go  to  market  town, 
To  sell  a  load  of  cotton 

For  my  neighbor,  Mr.  Brown; 
The  road  is  like  an  arrow 

And  measured  by  the  rule, 
It  was  only  forty  paces 

But  a  million  for  a  mule. 


I  might  get  there  tomorrow 

I  might  get  there  tonight, 
The  way  this  mule  am  going 

Am  sure  a  sorry  sight ; 
I'm  jerking  on  the  bridle 

And  whipping  like  a  fool, 
But  what's  the  use  of  talking 

To  a  turtle  like  a  mule. 
18 


Plantation  Pieces,   Camp  Meeting  Songs 

I've  got  to  go  to  market 

I've  got  to  go  to  town, 
I've  got  to  sell  this  cotton 

For  my  neighbor,  Mr.  Brown; 
It's  just  around  the  corner 

Beyond  the  little  school, 
A  half  a  dozen  paces 

But  a  million  for  a  mule. 


WHERE  THE  COTTON  USED  TO  GROW 

Dinah  my  heart  is  weeping 

Dinah  my  heart  is  sad, 
Dinah  'twould  make  me  happy 

Dinah  'twould  make  me  glad; 
Once  more  while  I'm  living 

Once  more  there  to  go, 
Back  to  dear  old  Dixie 

Where  the  cotton  used  to  grow. 

Dinah  no  more  I'm  weeping 

Dinah  no  more  I'm  sad, 
Dinah  my  heart  is  happy 

Dinah  my  heart  is  glad; 
For  the  good  Lord  tells  me 

And  the  Lord  must  know, 
We're  going  back  to  Dixie 

Where  the  cotton  used  to  grow. 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


RABBIT  IN  THE  POT 

Yum!     Yum!     Yum! 

What  is  it  I  got? 
Nothing  but  a  rabbit 

And  a  rabbit  in  the  pot. 

Yum!     Yum!     Yum! 

But  that  fire  am  hot, 
And  that's  the  way  to  keep  it 

With  a  rabbit  in  the  pot. 

Yum!     Yum!     Yum! 

I  know  a  savory  spot, 
It  is  a  rabbit  cooking 

And  a  rabbit  in  a  pot. 

Yum!     Yum!     Yum! 

And  if  I  had  a  yacht, 
I  wouldn't  go  a  sailing 

With  that  rabbit  in  the  pot 

Yum!     Yum!    Yum! 

But  don't  it  take  a  lot 
Of  waiting,  waiting,  waiting 

For  a  rabbit  in  a  pot. 

Yum!     Yum!     Yum! 

What  a  joy  I  got, 
I  guess  I'm  going  crazy 

With  that  rabbit  in  the  pot. 
20 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


THE  OLD  STEAMBOAT 

Sambo  went  to  market 

To  sell  a  little  pig, 
He  had  a  dozen  chickens 

And  he  had  a  balky  rig; 
He  got  down  near  the  river 

With  his  chickens  and  his  shoat, 
Toot!   Toot!    goes  the  whistle 

Of  the  old  steamboat. 

His  mule  he  got  excited 

And  started  on  a  run, 
And  sped  along  the  highway, 

Like  a  bullet  from  a  gun; 
Scattered  were  the  chickens 

And  scattered  was  the  shoat, 
Toot!    Toot!    frightened  by  the  whistle 

Of  the  old  steamboat. 

And  Sambo  started  clubbing 

That  critter  of  a  mule, 
Until  he  had  him  humbled 

And  looking  like  a  fool; 
And  then  he  caught  the  chickens 

And  then  he  caught  the  shoat, 
Toot!    Toot!    frightened  by  the  whistle 

Of  the  old  steamboat. 


21 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


LILY  SNOWDROP 

They  called  her  Lily  Snowdrop 

Because  she  dressed  in  white, 
But  Lily  was  a  negress 

And  such  a  monstrous  sight; 
The  fat  was  on  her  biceps 

The  fat  was  on  her  arms, 
And  fatty  was  her  wrinkles 

And  fatty  was  her  charms. 

And  talk  about  your  blackness, 

No  blackness  of  the  night 
Could  equal  Lily  Snowdrop 

When  she  was  dressed  in  white; 
And  someone  seeing  Lily 

Said,  bless  her  giant  soul, 
If  I  had  two  Lily  Snowdrops 

I'd  have  a  ton  of  coal. 

THE  MINSTREL  MAN 

The  minstrel  man  has  come  to  town 
All  the  gentlemen  please  sit  down, 
Why  does  a  chicken — and  then  he  began 
Haw!  haw!  haw!  the  minstrel  man. 

The  minstrel  man  he  wears  a  vest 
Just  like  a  sunset  in  the  west, 
Mr.  Tambo — and  then  he  began 
Haw!  haw!  haw!  the  minstrel  man. 
22 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 

The  minstrel  man  has  a  funny  face 

And  a  big  sunflower  in  its  place, 

And  the  smile  is  broad  in  the  lily  white  han' 

Of  this  haw !  haw !  haw !  minstrel  man. 

The  minstrel  man  is  on  the  end 

Or  in  the  middle  of  the  minstrel  men, 

And  who  is  happier  in  all  the  Ian' 

Than  this  ragtime,  jazz,  jazz,  minstrel  man. 


MISTAH  JONES 

Mistah  Jones  went  courting 

Went  courting  sporty  too, 
He  always  carried  a  flower 

And  a  razor  in  his  shoe; 
The  flower  am  for  my  lady 

Said  Mistah  Jones  so  spare, 
And  the  razor  am  for  any  niggah 

Who  happens  to  be  there. 

Mandy  was  his  sweetheart 

A  most  engaging  miss, 
Who  seemed  all  light  and  sunshine 

And  who  seemed  all  joy  and  bliss; 
But  when  I  think  of  that  razor 

And  of  that  miss  so  fair, 
I  wouldn't  want  to  call  on  Mandy 

When  Mistah  Jones  is  there. 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


OLD  JIM  CROW 

Old  Jim  Crow  went  walking 

Went  walking  down  the  street, 
He  had  a  clumsy  manner 

And  he  had  big  clumsy  feet; 
But  when  he  started  dancing 

And  dancing  Juba  too, 
You  never  saw  such  prancing 

As  old  Jim  could  do. 

He  cavorted  through  the  two-step 

He  cavorted  up  and  down, 
He  scrambled  through  the  one-step 

And  tumbled  round  and  round; 
And  wherever  there  is  dancing 

The  dancing  old  and  new, 
You  never  saw  such  dancing 

As  Old  Jim  Crow  did  do. 

The  bobolink  and  the  blackbird 

They  looked  on  in  amaze, 
To  see  the  funny  jumping 

Of  Jim  Crow  and  his  ways; 
And  to  this  day  in  Dixie 

They  say  it's  very  true, 
There  is  no  more  such  dancing 

As  Old  Jim  Crow  could  do. 


24 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


THAT'S  WHY  I  WANT  TO  GO  THERE 

The  darkies  shout  and  the  darkies  sing 
The  Lord  he  is  my  heavenly  King, 
And  when  I  die  on  an  angel's  wing 
That's  why  I  want  to  go  there. 

I  want  to  go  there,  I  want  to  go  there, 
I  want  to  go  there,  I  want  to  go  there, 
I  want  to  go  there,  I  want  to  go  there, 
That's  why  I  want  to  go  there. 

I  want  to  go  there  on  a  Sunday  morn 
I  want  to  hear  Massa  blow  his  horn, 
I  want  to  see  the  blackbirds  in  the  corn 
That's  why  I  want  to  go  there. 

I  want  to  go  where  there  is  no  snow 
I  want  to  go  where  the  daisies  grow, 
I  want  to  go  where  I  can  go 
That's  why  I  want  to  go  there. 

I  want  to  hear  the  flipping  of  the  angel's  wing 
I  want  to  see  Jesus  and  my  King, 
I  want  to  shout  and  I  want  to  sing 
That's  why  I  want  to  go  there. 

I  want  to  go  there  for  the  judgment  day 
I  want  to  hear  the  darkies  sing  and  pray, 
I  want  the  jubilee  to  start  right  away 
That's  why  I  want  to  go  there. 

25 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


FIDDLIN'  JOE 

Playing  fiddles  Sah  is  fine 

And  I  will  show  you  how  I  play  mine, 

At  the  dances  where  I  go 

Said  a  darky  Fiddlin'  Joe. 

First  you  rosin  up  your  bow 
Then  you  fix  your  fiddle  so, 
Tuck  your  fiddle  under  your  chin 
And  that's  the  way  you  first  begin. 

Scrape  and  scrape,  and  scrape  the  strings 
Till  that  blamed  old  fiddle  sings, 
But  don't  forget  the  way  you  begin 
Is  to  tuck  your  fiddle  under  your  chin. 

Back  and  forth  you  rub  the  bow 

Up  and  down  you  make  it  go, 

But  the  way  you  first  begin 

Is  to  tuck  your  fiddle  under  your  chin. 

Make  that  catgut  squeal  and  howl 
Saw  that  fiddle  near  your  jowl, 
But  to  do  all  this  you  first  begin 
By  tucking  your  fiddle  under  your  chin. 

Up  and  down  you  let  it  rave 
Bend  that  bow  just  like  a  wave, 
But  don't  forget  when  you  first  begin 
To  tuck  your  fiddle  under  your  chin. 
26 


Plantation  Pieces,   Camp  Meeting  Songs 

Old  Dan  Tucker  and  the  'Downs 
These  am  the  tunes  that  go  the  rounds, 
And  all  seem  sweeter  when  you  begin 
With  that  fiddle  under  your  chin. 

And  when  the  dance  is  nearly  through 
I  give  a  flourish  one  or  two, 
But  I  always  play  when  I  first  begin 
By  tuckin'  mah  fiddle  under  mah  chin. 


"BURY  MAH  BANJO  BY  MAH  SIDE" 

Rastus  sang  and  Rastus  played 
All  the  tunes  that  ever  were  made, 
But  he  had  one  tune  that  was  his  pride 
"Bury  mah  banjo  by  my  side." 

He  played  the  dances  and  the  fairs 
He  played  his  banjo  everywheres, 
And  people  laughed  and  people  cried 
At  "Bury  mah  banjo  by  mah  side." 

At  last  old  Rastus  he  got  sick 

And  off  he  went  to  heaven  quick, 

And  in  the  grave  where  his  bones  reside 

They  buried  his  banjo  by  his  side. 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


THE  OLD  COLORED  MINISTER 

Old  and  gray  and  bowed  with  years 
The  old  colored  minister  in  the  church  appears, 
And  he  raises  his  eyes,  and  he  raises  his  hand 
And   the  congregation   rise,   and   the  congregation 

stand, 

And  the  minister  preach,  and  the  minister  pray 
World  without  end  from  day  to  day. 

And  he  tells  the  story  of  the  long  lost  sheep 
And  his  hearers  smile,  and  his  hearers  weep, 
And   the  congregation   rise,   and   the  congregation 

stand ; 

And  the  congregation  sing  with  the  book  in  the  hand ; 
And  the  minister  preach,  and  the  minister  pray 
World  without  end  from  day  to  day. 

And  the  old  and  young,  and  the  young  and  old 

Hear  from  his  lips  those  words  of  gold, 

And   the  congregation   rise,   and  the  congregation 

stand ; 

And  they  feel  the  clasp  of  his  trembling  hand ; 
And  the  minister  preach,  and  the  minister  pray 
World  without  end  from  day  to  day. 

And  he  preaches  the  sermon  over  the  dead 
And  he  says  the  words  that  makes  them  wed, 
And  the  congregation  rise,  and  the  congregation 

stand  ; 

Doing  the  will  of  the  Lord's  command, 
And  the  minister  preach,  and  the  minister  pray 
World  without  end  from  day  to  day. 
28 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 

And  he  heals  the  wound  and  he  dries  the  tear 

And  he  comforts  the  sorrow  and  the  fear, 

And   the  congregation   rise,   and   the  congregation 

stand ; 

The  happiest  church  in  that  happiest  land; 
And  the  minister  preach,  and  the  minister  pray 
World  without  end  from  day  to  day. 


'WAY  DOWN  SOUTH  IN  GEORGIA 

Come  to  the  land  of  the  golden  moon 
Come  to  the  land  where  the  darkies  croon 

'Way  down   south   in  Georgia 

In  Georgia — in  Georgia 
There's  where  I  was  born,  on  a  Sunday  morn 

'Way  down  south  in  Georgia. 

Come  to  the  land  of  the  Dixie  rose 

Come  to  the  land  where  the  cotton  grows — 

'Way  down  south  in  Georgia. 

In  Georgia — in  Georgia 
There's  where  I  was  born,  on  a  Sunday  morn 

'Way  down  south  in  Georgia. 

Come  to  the  land  where  they  sing  and  dance 
Come  to  the  land  where  the  maids  entrance 

'Way  down  south   in  Georgia 

In  Georgia — in  Georgia 
There's  where  I  was  born,  on  a  Sunday  morn 

'Way  down  south  in  Georgia. 

29 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


THE  CHARIOT  FORD 

We  came  to  a  river 

Too  wide  to  cross, 
And  we  couldn't,  and  we  couldn't 

And  we  couldn't  get  across; 
And  they  sent  for  a  chariot 

The  river  to  ford, 
And  they  came  right  away 

With  a  chariot  ford; 
But  oh,   good  Lord, 

How  can  I  afford, 
To  ever  get  across 

In  a  chariot  ford. 


The  river  am  wide 

And  the  river  am  deep, 
And  I  want  to  get  across 

Where  I  can  sleep; 
And  the  Lord  he  came 

And  the  Lord  he  smiled, 
And  he  said,  my  chillun, 

The  waters  am  mild; 
So  take  your  place 

And  hurry  up  aboard, 
For  a  good  old  ride 

In  the  chariot  ford. 
30 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 

So  when  you  come  to  Jordan 

And  you  can't  get  across, 
Never  mind  chillun 

There's  a  way  to  cross; 
The  Lord  am  good 

And  the  Lord  am  kind, 
And  a  way  over  Jordan 

He  am  sure  to  find; 
And  keep  right  on 

In  the  promise  of  the  Lord, 
And  wait  till  you  come 

To  a  chariot  ford. 


THE  WHITE  ANGELS 

Mammy,  am  the  angels  always  white? 
Lisped  a  little  chile  one  bedtime  night, 
And  the  Mammy  answered  in  affright 
Hush !  my  chile,  and  say  good  night. 

Mammy  why  am  the  angels  always  white? 
Said  the  little  chile  one  bedtime  night. 
And  the  Mammy  answered  in  affright 
Hush !  my  chile,  and  say  good  night. 

For  if  the  angels  am  always  white 
I'll  never  be  an  angel  in  your  sight, 
And  the  Mammy  answered  in  affright 
Hush !  my  chile,  and  say  good  night. 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


BULLFROG  PONE 

Down  by  the  gum  tree 

Sitting  on  a  log, 
Croaking  all  the  evening 

Lived  a  big  frog. 

Along  came  a  nigger 
Who  picked  up  a  stone, 

With  visions  of  a  supper 
And  a  bullfrog  pone. 

The  frog  saw  the  nigger 
And  the  frog  saw  the  stone, 

But  he  wasn't  quite  ready 
For  a  bullfrog  pone. 

He  made  a  great  dive 

And  he  made  a  great  splash, 
And  good  bye  nigger 
To  that  bullfrog  hash. 

THE  NIGGER  AND  THE  MULE 

Hee!    Hee!    Hee! 

Haw!    Haw!    Haw! 
I'm  laughing  like  a  jackass 

And  I'm  laughing  like  a  fool, 
For  down  in  Alabama 

It  always  is  the  rule, 
That  where  you  see  a  nigger 

You  will  always  see  a  mule. 
32 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 

Hee!    Hee!    Hee! 

Haw!    Haw!    Haw! 
I'm  laughing  like  a  jackass 

And  laughing  like  a  fool, 
"Tis  taught  in  every  college 

And  taught  in  every  school, 
That  where  you  see  a  nigger 

You  will  always  see  a  mule. 


THE  WILD  EYED  COON 

Ah  done  got  a  razor 

Ah  done  want  to  sell, 
Ah  done  needs  the  money 

Ah  doan'  feel  so  well; 

The  fo'ks  all  say  ahm  crazy 
And  they  take  me  for  a  loon, 

But  ah  wouldn't  sell  a  razor 
To  a  wild  eyed  coon. 

Ah  may  be  looking  shabby 
But  ah  done  know  mah  biz, 

Fo'  I  hear  that  Rastus  saying 
He  am  gwine  to  get  his; 

The  fo'ks  all  say  ahm  crazy 
And  they  take  me  for  a  loon, 

But  ah  wouldn't  sell  a  razor 
To  a  wild  eyed  coon. 

33 


Negro  PoemSj  Melodies 


HARD  TIMES  COME  AGAIN  NO  MORE 

How  happy  are  the  darkies 
As  they  sing  this  chorus  o'er, 
Hard  times  come  again  no  more. 
The  cabin  has  a  shutter 
And  the  cabin  has  a  door; 
Hard  times  come  again  no  more. 
There's  a  curtain  in  the  window, 
And  a  carpet  on  the  floor, 
Hard  times  come  again  no  more. 
There's  plenty  in  the  cupboard 
And  there's  credit  at  the  store; 
Hard  times  come  again  no  more. 
And  they  sing  aloud  their  praises, 
For  the  blessing  ever  more 
That  hard  times,  hard  times 
Come  again  no  more. 


JONAH  AND  THE  WHALE 

The  ark  is  coming  up  the  road, 
Said  Hannah  Jordan,  with  a  load, 
And  I  guess  I'll  get  aboard 
Before  that  river  I  have  to  ford ; 
And  besides  said  Hannah  pale 
I  don't  like  that  Jonah  Whale, 
And  if  that  ark  done  try  to  balk 
Ah  can  jes'  get  out  and  walk. 

34 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


THE  PLACARD 

Who  wants  to  buy,  I  want  to  sell 
A  swayback  mule  sound  and  well, 
Warranted  broke  and  does  not  kick, 
Willing  to  work  and  never  sick; 
And  Sambo  read  and  scratched  his  head 
And  pondered  long  and  then  he  said, 
The  man  that  wrote  that  no  kick  rule 
Is  talking  bull  and  not  a  mule. 


NIGGER  GIN 

Rastus  to  the  Doctor  went 

With  a  lot  of  ills  and  not  a  cent, 

And  this  is  the  way  he  told  the  physician 

How  he  felt  in  his  condition ; 

Ah  can't  sleep  and  ah  can't  eat 

And  ah  can't  stand  upon  mah  feet, 

Mah  tongue  am  hot  mah  feet  am  cool 

And  ah  done  feel  jes'  like  a  fool ; 

The  doctor  heard  his  mournful  cries 

The  doctor  saw  his  bleary  eyes, 

Saw  his  symptoms  and  grimaces, 

Saw  the  effects  and  the  traces; 

And  raising  his  finger  in  the  air 

Bode  him  heed  his  warning  there, 

Fob  you  done  got,  said  Doctor  Grin, 

A  very  bad  case  of  Nigger  Gin. 

35 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


THE  DARKY 

A  piece  of  night  and  for  his  eyes 
Two  clouds  from  out  the  morning  skies, 
And  for  his  mouth  and  for  his  laugh 
A  water-melon  cut  in  half ; 
Live  today  and  lack  tomorrow 
All  of  joy  and  naught  of  sorrow, 
Half  a  homily,  half  a  joke 
There's  your  darky,  there's  your  smoke. 

THAT  HOUN'  DAWG 

That  houn'  dawg,  said  Rastus  Jones, 
Done  send  a  chill  through  all  mah  bones, 
Ahm  jes'  a  walking  round  and  round 
And  I  always  shiver  when  I  hear  that  houn'. 
He  bays  at  the  moon,  and  he  bays  at  the  tree, 
He  bays  at  the  shadow  and  he  bays  at  me, 
Ahm  jes'  a  walking  round  and  round 
But  I  got  to  shiver  when  I  hear  that  houn'. 

TOTIN'  ALONG 

Old  black  Joe  went  ambling  along 

And  old  black  Joe  has  a  happy  old  song, 

The  hill  is  long  that  I  got  to  climb 

But  I'll  keep  on  climbing  all  the  time; 

And  all  you  got  to  do  when  the  world  goes  wrong 

Is  to  keep  on  totin',  totin'  along. 

36 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 

The  burden  is  heavy  that  my  back  must  bear 

But  the  Lord  done  keep  me  in  His  care, 

And  the  Lord  is  good  and  the  Lord  is  kind 

And  rest  and  shade  I  am  sure  to  find; 

And  all  you  got  to  do  when  the  world  goes  wrong 

Is  to  keep  on  totin',  totin'  along. 

OH  LORD  NOT  ME 

Who  stole  the  woodpile  and  the  axe? 

Who  turns  the  turtles  on  their  backs  ? 

Who   had   some   chickens   in   some   funny   looking 

sacks  ? 

Oh  Lord,  not  me. 

Who  went  fishing  and  stepped  on  a  toad? 
Who  saw  a  bat  fly  over  the  road  ? 
Who   didn't  have   a   rabbit's   foot  when   the  hen 

crowed  ? 
Oh  Lord,  not  me. 

ANTE-BELLUM 

Ante-Bellum  I  knew  her  well 

And  Parson  Jones  began  to  tell 

The  virtues  of  an  old  black   Mammy 

Who  had  a  son  whose  name  was  Sammy, 

Who  had  a  niece  whose  name  was  Ethel 

Who  went  to  Sunday  school  in  Bethel ; 

And  so  the  Parson  strung  his  lyre 

Until  he  proved  himself  a  liar, 

For  Ante-Bellum  means  befoh' 

All  that  trouble  called  the  wah. 

37 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


TH'E  CAKE  WALK 

Just  see  them  darkies  walking 
Just  watch  the  steps  they  take, 

For  the  darkies  all  are  walking 
And  walking  for  that  cake. 

The  feathers  on  them  ladies 
Was  something  fine  and  grand, 

And  every  colored  gentlemen 
Had  a  flower  in  his  hand. 

Such  strutting  and  such  perking 
No  peacock  bird  could  make, 

Like  them  happy  darkies 

When  walking  for  that  cake. 

What  cared  they  for  dem  tight  shoes? 

What  if  their  corns  did  ache? 
They  am  just  too  happy 

Walking  for  that  cake. 

And  Rastus  scraped  the  fiddle 
And  Rastus  called  the  turns, 

And  the  way  that  fiddle  whistled 
He  sure  his  money  earns. 

All  hands  on  the  carpet, 

Every  one  go  in  pairs, 
Step  lively  round  the  corners 

And  look  out  for  dem  chairs. 

38 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 

Up  and  down  the  parlor 

I  thought  their  necks  would  break, 
The  way  them  darkies  held  their  heads 

Walking  for  that  cake. 


SOUTHERN  LULLABY 

There  is  a  Southern  lullaby 

And  I'm  going  to  sing  the  tune, 

Big  eye — bright  eye 
Shining  like  the  moon. 

I  heard  it  on  the  Swanee 

In  the  merry  month  of  June, 

Big  eye — bright  eye 
Shining  like  the  moon. 

And  I  was  watching  Hannah 
As  she  ladeled  with  a  spoon, 

Big  eye — bright  eye 
Shining  like  the  moon. 

And  she  was  softly  cooing 
The  music  of  the  croon, 

Big  eye — bright  eye 
Shining  like  the  moon. 

For  down  in  Alabama 
'Tis  the  asset  of  the  coon, 

Big  eye — bright  eye 
Shining  like  the  moon. 
39 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


POMPEYS'  PLEA 

Tide  me  over  the  winter, 

Tide  me  over  the  snow, 
Send  me  back  to  Georgia 

Where  the  winds  don't  blow; 
I  don't  like  the  winter, 

I  don't  like  the  cold, 
For  I'm  only  a  poor  old  nigger 

Who's  growing  very  old. 

The  crow  he  got  his  feathers 

In  the  wing  and  tail, 
But  scanty  are  my  garments 

And  my  shoes  are  frail; 
So  send  me  back  to  Georgia 

Where  the  winds  don't  blow, 
For  I'm  only  a  poor  old  nigger 

Who  has  nowheres  to  go. 

THEN  YOU'LL  COME  BACK  TO  DIXIE 

You  said  good  bye  to  Dixie, 

You  bade  her  your  adieu, 
You  left  the  blackbirds  singing 

And  you  left  the  skylarks  too; 
But  when  the  north  winds  gather 

And  tumble  round  their  snows, 
Then  you'll  come  back  to  Dixie 

Where  the  sweet  magnolia  grows. 
40 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 

The  snowy  fields  of  cotton 

And  the  sunny  fields  of  corn, 
No  longer  could  enchant  you 

To  the  place  where  you  was  born; 
But  when  your  heart  grows  weary 

And  you  sigh  to  see  the  rose. 
Then  you'll  come  back  to  Dixie 

Where  the  Swanee  river  flows. 


CORNFIELDS 

The  cornfields,  the  cornfields 

Waving  in  the  air, 
Waving  in  the  sunshine 

And  waving  green  and  fair; 
How  I  love  the  cornfields 

How  I  love  to  go 
Back  to  Louisiana, 

Where  the  cornfields  grow. 


The  cornfieUs,  the  cornfields 

I   never   can   forget, 
And  often  in  my  fancy 

I  am  toiling  in  them  yet; 
And  when  my  days  are  over 

I  want  my  soul  to  go 
Back  to  Louisiana, 

Where  the  cornfields  grow. 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


BEFO'  DE  WAH 

I  was  bo'n  Sah  in  a  cabin, 

A  cabin  very  small, 
It  didn't  have  a  chimney 

And  it  didn't  have  a  hall; 
But  it  had  a  big  sunflower 

Growing  round   the  door, 
And  this  was  long  ago,   Sah, 

Long  befo'  de  wah. 


Long  befo'  the  wah,  Sah, 
Long  befo'  de  wah, 
The  darkies  they  were  singing, 
The  banjos  they  were  ringing, 
Down  in  old  Virginia 
Long  befo'  de  wah. 


I  was  bo'n  down  in  the  Souf,  Sah, 

Upon  a  little  farm, 
The  days  were  bright  and  sunny 

And  the  nights  were  bright  and  warm; 
The  rabbit  and  the  turtle 

Would  come  around  the  door, 
And  this  was  long  ago,  Sah, 

Long  befo'  de  wah. 
42 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 

Long  befo'  de  wah,  Sah, 
Long  befo'  de  wah, 
Down  in  old  Virginny 
I  was  a  pickaninny, 
Long  befo'  de  wah,  Sah, 
Long  befo'  de  wah. 


WHAT  FOHi  I  DUNNO 

I  done  get  arrested 

What  foh,  I  dunno. 
I  wasn't  near  that  hen  house 

When  that  rooster  crow; 
I  didn't  see  that  rooster 

When  that  rooster  crow, 
But  I  done  get  arrested 

What  foh,  I  dunno. 

I  done  get  arrested 

What  foh,  I  dunno. 
I  wasn't  near  that  wood  pile 

When  dem  breezes  blow; 
I  didn't  see  that  wood  pile 

When  dem  breezes  blow, 
I  done  get  arrested 

But  what  foh,  I  dunno. 


43 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


SERENADE 

Smiling  moon,  rising  soon 
Over  the  hills,  over  the  rills 

And  I'm  thinking  of  my  Dinah, 
And  the  smiling  silvery  moon. 

Smiling  moon,  silvery  moon 
All  the  flowers,  scent  the  bowers 

And  I'm  thinking  of  my  Dinah, 
And  the  smiling  silvery  moon. 

Smiling  moon,  silvery  moon 

Twitter  the  birds,  low  the  herds 

And  I'm  thinking  of  my  Dinah, 
And  the  smiling  silvery  moon. 

Smiling  moon,  silvery  moon 
The  nights  ajar,  I  see  the  star 

And  I  long  to  be  with  Dinah, 
And  the  smiling  silvery  moon. 

DINAH 

Dinah!  Dinah!  I  see  Dinah  there. 
Dinah!  Dinah!  Dinah  I  declare 
All  the  boys  are  jealous 

See  them  pull  their  hair, 
When  my  Dinah's  coming 

And  I  see  Dinah  there. 

44 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 

Dinah !  Dinah !  just  see  Dinah 's  hair. 
Dinah!  Dinah!  Dinah  is  so  fair, 
All  the  boys  are  jealous 

They  could  almost  swear, 
When  my  Dinah's  coming 

And  I  see  Dinah  there. 


DINAH  MINE          ,  •*..... 

Dinah!  Dinah  is  my  gal,  •'; 

You  can  have  your  Sue  or  Sal, 
But  the  one  that  pleases  me 
Is  my  Dinah  that  you  see. 

Dinah!  Dinah!  Dinah  mine, 
Her  eyes  sparkle,  her  eyes  shine, 
And  where  a  gal  so  choice  and  fine 
Like  my  Dinah,  Dinah,  mine. 

She  is  plump  and  she  is  fair 
With  coal  black  eyes  and  coal  black  hair, 
And  on  her  hand  she  is  going  to  wear 
A  big  gold  ring  that  I'll  put  there. 

Dinah!  Dinah!  Dinah  mine;. 
Her  eyes  sparkle,  her  eyes  shine, 
And  where  a  gal  so  choice  and  fine 
Like  my  Dinah,  Dinah  mine. 


45 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


MANDY'S  PARTY 

Mandy  gave  a  party 

The  fame  of  which  was  wide, 
And  Mandy  did  the  cooking 

For  that  was  Mandy's  pride; 
There  were  chickens,  there  were  possums, 

There  was  hoe  cake  and  a  boar, 
And  Mandy  says  I'm  coming 

When  I  lock  that  kitchen  door. 


The  smell  of  all  that  kitchen 

Pervaded  every  room, 
Just  like  a  sweet  potato 

In  sweet  potato  bloom ; 
The  dancers  all  were  merry, 

The  revelry  galore, 
And  Mandy  says  I'm  coming 

When  I  lock  that  kitchen  door. 


And  Mandy  in  the  kitchen 

Was  busy  as  the  bees, 
Baking  crispy  biscuits 

And  shelling  juicy  peas; 
The  call  went  round  for  Mandy 

And  went  round  more  and  more 
But  Mandy  says  I'm  coming 

When  I  lock  this  kitchen  door. 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 

At  last  the  supper's  ready, 

At  last  the  work  is  done, 
And  raging  fast  and  furious 

Went  on  the  nigger  fun ; 
The  coons  began  to  grumble 

And  the  coons  began  to  jaw, 
But  Mandy  says  I'm  coming 

When  I  lock  this  kitchen  door. 

For  Mandy  knew  them  niggers 

And  Mandy  knew  them  coons, 
She  knew  them  possums  baking 

Would  start  them  nigger  croons; 
So  let  them  niggers  holler, 

Said  Mandy  with  a  roar, 
And  tell  them  coons  I'm  coming 

When  I  lock  this  kitchen  door. 


AUNT  JEMIMA 

Aunt  Jemima  laughed  so  loud 
She  looked  just  like  a  thunder  cloud, 
Her  mouth  would  open  like  a  door 
And  then  there  came  an  awful  roar; 
It  used  to  all  the  babies  wake, 
It  used  to  all  the  ceiling  shake, 
And  I'm  laughing,  laughing  yet 
At  Aunt  Jemima's  cheeks  so  wet. 


47 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


SHUFFLIN'  FEET 

There's  music  in  the  banjo, 

There's  music  soft  and  sweet, 
When  playing  in  the  evening 

To  rest  the  weary  feet; 
And  when  the  banjo's  playing 

And  playing  soft  and  sweet, 
I  can't  keep  from  shufflin' 

From  shufflin'  these  old  feet. 

The  rheum  am  in  my  fingers 

And  the  rheum  am  in  my  feet, 
And  I  can  only  hobble 

When  I  go  along  the  street; 
And  when  the  harps  of  Zion 

Send  out  their  tones  so  sweet, 
I  can't  keep  from  shufflin' 

From  shufflin'  these  old  feet. 


WHEN  I  GET  OVER  THE  RIVER 

When  I  get  over  the  river, 

That  river  deep  and  wide, 
How  great  will  be  my  pleasure, 

How  great  will  be  my  pride ; 
The  angels  will  be  standing 

For  every  one  to  see, 
And  when  I  get  over  the  river 

Moses  will  meet  me. 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 

When  I  get  over  the  river 

And  reach  old  Jordan's  shore, 
I  want  to  see  my  loved  ones 

That  all  have  gone  before; 
And  there  amid  that  gathering 

For  every  one  to  see 
Moses  will  be  standing 

And  waiting  there  for  me. 


UNCLE  TOM 

Uncle  Tom  is  singing 

And  singing  soft  and  low, 
His  hair  is  almost  silvered 

And  his  steps  are  very  slow ; 
And  still  he  keeps  on  singing 

As  he  treads  among  the  gorse, 
One  more  ribber,  one  more  ribber 

One  more  ribber  to  cross. 

The  day  is  bright  and  cheerful 

The  sky  shows  not  a  cloud, 
And  Uncle  Tom  keeps  singing 

In  the  vineyard  with  the  crowd; 
And  still  he  keeps  on  singing 

With  all  his  vocal  force, 
One  more  ribber,  one  more  ribber 

One  more  ribber  to  cross. 


49 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


FOLK  SONG 

White  folks,  white  folks 

Want  to  shine, 
Drink  a  lot  of  whiskey, 

Drink  a  lot  of  wine ; 
And  white  folks,  white  folks 

Don't  take  it  ill, 
Ef  when  you  talk — 

I  done  keep  still. 


White  folks,  white  folks 

You  am  proud, 
You  done  talk  big 

And  you  done  talk  loud ; 
And  white  folks,  white  folks 

Don't  take  it  ill, 
Ef  when  you  talk — 

I  done  keep  still. 


White  folks,  white  folks 

Make  a  lot  of  noise, 
Talk   about  their  pleasures, 

Talk  about  their  joys; 
And  white  folks,  white  folks 

Don't  take  it  ill, 
Ef  when  you  talk — 

I  done  keep  still. 
50 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 

White  folks,  white  folks 

Where  am  your  brains, 
Doing  all  these  things 

Fo'  yo'  pains; 
And  white  folks,  white  folks 

Don't  take  it  ill, 
Ef  when  you  talk — 

I  done  keep  still. 


THE  POOR  WHITE  MAN 

The  poor  white  man, 

The  poor  white  man, 
Living  up  north 

In  a  cold  white  land; 
Never  saw  a  banjo 

Or  heard  a  nigger  band, 
And  I'd  rather  be  a  nigger 

Than  a  po'  white  man. 

The  poor  white  man, 

The  poor  white  man, 
Never  saw  a  possum 

Or  a  possum  in  a  pan. 
Never  had  a  chicken 

Or  a  razor  in  his  hand, 
And  I'd  rather  be  a  nigger 

Than  a  po'  white  man. 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


POSSUM  PIE 

Carve  that  possum,  Hannah 

Carve  that  possum  soon, 
For  the  pan  am  ready 

And  here  am  the  spoon; 
Carve  him  in  de  quarters, 

Carve  him  in  de  thigh, 
And  carve  that  possum,  Hannah 

Foh  a  possum  pie. 

Carve  that  possum,  Hannah 

Carve  the  fat  and  lean, 
For  that  meat  am  the  juiciest 

That  I  have  ever  seen  ; 
Carve  him  in  de  quarters, 

Carve  him  in  de  thigh, 
And  carve  that  possum,  Hannah 

Foh  a  possum  pie. 


THE  GRINNING  NIGGER  MAN 

When  you  make  a  hoe  cake 

You  want  to  make  it  quick, 
Stir  it  in  the  basin 

And  stir  it  with  a  stick; 
Bake  it  in  the  oven, 

Bake  it  in  a  pan, 
And  then  just  watch  the  antics 

Of  that  grinning  nigger  man. 

52 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 

When  you  eat  a  hoe  cake 

You  want  to  eat  it  hot, 
Take  it  from  the  oven 

And  eat  it  on  the  spot; 
Hold  it  in  the  middle, 

Hold  it  in  your  han' 
And  then  just  watch  the  antics 

Of  that  grinning  nigger  man. 


I'M  THERE 

Every  different  nigger 

Has  a  different  taste, 
You  can  see  it  in  their  manner, 

You  can  see  it  in  their  face  ; 
Some  might  want  a  turtle, 

Some  might  want  a  bear, 
But  when  you  say  rabbit 

I'm  there. 

Possum  is  too  juicy, 

Chicken  is  too  dry, 
Watermelon  lovely 

When  they  take  the  eye; 
Some  might  want  a  turkey, 

Some  might  want  a  hare, 
But  when  you  say  rabbit 

I'm  there. 


53 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


THE  DARKY'S  PRAYER 

Oh,  Massa  of  all  Massas 

Where  the  ribber  Jordan  flows, 
Where  the  darkies  all  am  welcome 

In  their  poor  and  ragged  clothes; 
Dis  darky  am  a  pleading, 

His  lips  done  move  in  prayer, 
And  help  a  poor  old  nigger 

Till  he  done  get  there. 

I  ask  no  more  of  Massa 

Than  Massa  give  to  me, 
He  made  my  labor  plenty 

And  he  made  my  labor  free  ; 
The  way  am  long  and  weary, 

The  load  am  hard  to  bear, 
And  help  a  poor  old  nigger 

Till  he  done  get  there. 

For  all  of  Massa's  kindness 

And  Massa's  ways  to  men, 
My  heart  am  full  of  glory 

And  my  lips  will  say  amen ; 
But  Jordan  and  the  shadows 

Are  sometimes  hard  to  bear, 
And  help  a  poor  old  nigger 

Till  he  done  get  there. 


54 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


OLD  BLACK  JOE 

Old  Black  Joe  went  hobbling, 
Went  hobbling  down  the  street, 

Rags  upon  his  shoulders 
And  rags  upon  his  feet. 

He  told  a  simple  story 

That  I  would  have  you  know, 
The  gospel  of  the  toiler 

And  the  gospel  of  the  hoe. 

Bo'n  down  in  the  Souf,   Sah, 

Bo'n  befo'  de  wah, 
I  never  knew  my  Mother 

Nor  what  my  life  was  for. 

They  talk  about  the  bible 
And  where  I've  got  to  go, 

But  I  couldn't  learn  the  bible 
When  I  had  to  learn  the  hoe. 

And  when  I  get  to  heaven 
Where  any  weeds  done  grow, 

I  guess  the  Lord  will  take  me 
If  I  show  the  Lord  my  hoe. 

And  as  a  finite  judgment 
On  creeds  and  things  below, 

I  want  no  better  argument 
Than  old  Black  Joe. 

55 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


WE'LL  ALL  GO  TO  HEAVEN  WHEN 
WE  DIE 

Chfllun  don't  worry, 

Chillun  don't  fret, 
When  the  sky  am  dark 

And  the  ground  am  wet; 
The  Lord  am  good 

And  we've  only  got  to  try 
And  we'll  all  go  to  heaven 

When  we  die. 

We'll  all  go  to  heaven 

When  we  die, 
We'll  all  go  to  heaven 

When  we  die; 
The  Lord  am  good 

And  we've  only  got  to  try, 
And  we'll  all  go  to  heaven 

When  we  die. 

Look  to  the  east 

And  look  to  the  west, 
And  look  to  the  place 

That  you  think  best; 
For  somewhere  in  the  heaven 

There's  a  rainbow  in  the  sky, 
And  we'll  all  go  to  heaven 

When  we  die. 

56 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 

We'll  all  go  to  heaven 

When  we  die, 
We'll  all  go  to  heaven 

When  we  die; 
For  somewhere  in  the  heaven 

There's  a  rainbow  in  the  sky, 
And  we'll  all  go  to  heaven 

When  we  die. 


The  night  may  come 

And  the  day  be  late, 
And  all  you  got  to  do 

Is  to  trust  and  wait  ; 
So  chillun  don't  weep 

And  chillun  don't  sigh, 
For  we'll  all  go  to  heaven 

When  we  die. 


We'll  all  go  to  heaven 

When  we  die, 
We'll  all  go  to  heaven 

When  we  die; 
So  chillun  don't  weep 

And  chillun  don't  sigh, 
For  we'll  all  go  to  heaven 

When  we  die. 


57 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


WHEN  THE  LORD  SAY  COME 

Glory,  Hallelujah! 

To  the  blood  of  the  lamb, 
I've  got  a  new  song 

And  the  song  is  a  psalm ; 
Get  out  of  the  way, 

Get  off  the  track, 
Get  off  old  devil — 

Get  off  my  back ; 
The  Lord  am  a  comin' 

For  I  hear  the  big  drum 
And  I'm  gwine  up  to  heaven 

When  the  Lord  say  come. 

Glory,  Hallelujah! 

To  the  blood  of  the  lamb, 

Glory,  Hallelujah! 
What  a  saint  I  am; 

That  old  devil- 
He  gave  me  a  frown, 

But  I  turned  to  that  devil 
And  I  knocked  him  down; 

I'm  gwine  to  Canaan 

And  Canaan  gwine  to  hum, 

When  I  see  the  Lord  comin' 
And  the  Lord  say  come. 


Plantation  Pieces,   Camp  Meeting  Songs 


THE  DARKY  DRUM  AND  FIFE  CORPS 

The  darky  drum  and  fife  corps 

Is  marching  on  parade, 
The  avenue  is  crowded 

And  the  favorite  tune  is  played; 
And  the  pride  of  all  that  company 

Was  not  the  major  tall — 
But  it  was  the  big  bass  drummer 

And  his  little  sheepskin  ball. 

Boom,  boom,  boom! 

Boom,  boom,  boom! 
Bumpety,  bumpety, 

Boom,  boom,  boom; 
See  those  elbows  flying 

Dispersing   every   gloom, 
Bumpety,  bumpety, 

Boom,  boom,  boom. 

The  darky  drum  and  fife  corps 

Is  marching  on  parade, 
The  windows  all  are  opened 

By  the  smiling  man  and  maid; 
And  the  pride  of  all  that  company 

Was  not  the  major  tall — 
But  it  was  the  big  bass  drummer 

And  his  little  sheepskin  ball. 


59 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


WHILE  JORDAN'S  IN  THE  WAY 

Roll  on,  thou  fiery  pillar 

Roll  on,  roll  on  your  way, 
Roll  on  in  the  night  time 

And  roll  on  in  the  day ; 
The  Lord  am  all  around  us, 

It  cannot  come  this  way, 
Oh  Glory  Hallelujah! 

While  Jordan's  in  the  way. 

Roll  on,  thou  fiery  pillar 

Roll  on,  roll  on  your  way, 
It  cannot  touch  the  righteous 

Who  to  the  Lord  will  pray; 
It  cannot  touch  the  holy, 

It  cannot  come  this  way, 
Oh  Glory  Hallelujah! 

While  Jordan's  in  the  way. 


CANAAN 

Canaan  thou  art  lovely, 

Canaan  of  my  dreams, 
Thy  mountains  and  thy  valleys, 

Thy  woodlands  and  thy  streams; 
Canaan's  over  the  river, 

Canaan's  very  near; 
I  can't  go  to  Canaan 

But  the  Lord  sends  Canaan  here. 
60 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


Cooling  are  thy  waters, 

Thy  pastures  rich  abound, 
Thy  flocks  and  fleece  are  legion 

And  always  to  be  found; 
Canaan's  over  the  river, 

Canaan's  very  near; 
I  can't  go  to  Canaan 

But  the  Lord  sends  Canaan  here. 


PUSH  DEM  CLOUDS  AWAY 

Elijah  I  is  coming, 

Fse  coming  in  the  morn, 
I'se  coming  in  a  hurry 

And  I'se  coming  to  the  horn; 
So  get  the  chariot  ready, 

I'se  coming  there  to  stay, 
And  when  you  see  me  comin* 

Oh  push  dem  clouds  away. 

The  Jordan  am  a  rollin* 

And  smoky  am  the  plain, 
And  I'se  afraid  of  lightnin' 

And  I'se  afraid  of  rain; 
So  when  you  see  me  comin' 

I'se  coming  there  to  stay, 
So  have  that  chariot  ready 

And  push  dem  clouds  away. 


61 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


CHRISTMAS  AM  A  COMIN' 

All  the  day  long — 

I   worry    and    fret, 
Something  goes  wrong 

That  I  cannot  forget 
But  go  away  raincloud, 

Go  away  fly — 
Christmas  am  a  comin' 

And  I  ain't  going  to  cry. 

All  the  day  long — 

I  worry  and  fret, 
Something  gwine  to  happen 

Or   I   get  in   debt. 
But  go  away  trouble 

Go  away  sigh — 
Christmas  am  a  comin' 

And  I  ain't  going  to  cry. 

Christmas    am   a    comin', 

Comin'   on   the  way, 
Christmas  am  a  comin' 

And  tomorrow  am  the  day. 
There's  a  possum  in  the  cellar 

And  a  porker  in  the  sty — 
Christmas  am  a  comin' 

And  I  ain't  going  to  cry. 


62 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


THE  BREAK  DOWN 

My  old   wagon,   chillun, 
Isn't  very  sound, 
It  been  a  good  old  wagon 
But  it  done  broke  down. 


The  axle's  out  of  order 
And  the  wheels  won't  go  round, 
It  been  a  good  old  wagon 
But  it  done  broke  down. 


It  trundled  in  the  cotton 
And  it  trundled  into  town, 
It  been  a  good  old  wagon 
But  it  done  broke  down. 


And  now  I  have  to  sell  it 
To  my  neighbor,  Mr.  Brown, 
It  been  a  good  old  wagon 
But  it  done  broke  down. 


And  I  hope  a  better  master 
My  poor  old  wagon's  found, 
For  it  been  a  good  old  wagon 
Before  it  done  broke  down. 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


DEM  SHOES 

Look  here  nigger  at  my  feet, 
Ain't  them  lovely  and  ain't  them  sweet? 
Ah  jes'  bought  'em,  they're  only  two's 
And  ah  gave  a  dollar  for  dem  shoes. 
Look  here  nigger  what  you  see, 
All  dem  folks  done  look  at  me, 
Glory!  Glory!  I  need  the  blues 
For  I'se  too  happy  in  dem  shoes. 


THE  OLD  MULE'S  TAIL 

That  old  mule's  tail 

Am    a   swinging   to   and    fro, 
Swinging  like  a  pendulum 

And  swinging  high  and  low. 
And  I  thought  it  was  a  windstorm 

And  I  thought  it  was  a  gale 
When  riding  with  my  Dinah 

And  that  old  mule's  tail. 

That  old  mule's  tail 

Am    a   swinging   to   and    fro, 
Swinging  when  I'm  coming 

And  swinging  when  I  go. 
And  I  thought  he  was  a  threshing 

And  I  thought  it  was  a  flail 
When  riding  with  my  Dinah 

And  that  old  mule's  tail. 


Plantation  Pieces f  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


THE  GOOD,  GOOD  NEWS 

Go  away    hunger — 

Knockin'  on  the  door, 
Go  away  cold  wind 

Come  around  no  more. 
Tell  all  your  folks 

The  good  good  news — 
Moses  am  a  comin' 

And  we'll  all  have  shoes. 


Barefoot  in  the  summer — 

Barefoot  in  the  cold, 
Barefoot   when   you're   married 

And  barefoot  when  you're  old, 
But  tell  all  the  folks 

The  good  good  news — 
Moses  am  a  comin' 

And  we'll  all  have  shoes. 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


THE  SONG  OF  DAVID 

David  was  a  great  big  King — 
Sing  a  song  of  David, 

His  crown  was  gold,  and  so  was  his  ring- 
Sing  a  song  of  David. 

He  took  a  stone  and  he  took  a  sling — 
Sing  a  song  of  David, 

And  a  great  big  giant  down  he  bring — 
Sing  a  song  of  David ; 

Oh  glory  to  the  heavenly  King 
Singing  the  song  of  David. 


SOMETHING  FOR  THE  BLUES 

I  met  a  yaller  nigger 

And  he  was  looking  very  sad, 
And  he  told  me  of  his  sorrow 

And  the  feelings  that  he  had ; 
He  wasn't  lacking  money 

And  he  wasn't  lacking  news, 
But  still  he  wanted  something 

That  was  something  for  the  blues. 
66 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 

Something  for  the  blues, 

Something  for  the  blues, 
He  was  wanting  something, 

Something  for  the  blues; 
It  might  have  been  a  possum 

Or  it  might  have  been  new  shoes, 
But  he  was  wanting  something 

That  was  something  for  the  blues. 

Just  then  there  started  playing 

A  minstrel  nigger  band, 
And  it  was  playing  Dixie 

Way  down  in  Dixieland ; 
And  that  nigger  very  happy 

Began  to  shout  and  muse, 
The  band  is  playing  something 

That  is  something  for  the  blues. 

Something  for  the  blues, 

Something  for  the  blues, 
He  was  wanting  something, 

Something  for  the  blues; 
It  might  have  been  a  possum 

Or  it  might  have  been  new  shoes, 
But  he  was  wanting  something 

That  was  something  for  the  blues. 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


DIXIE  FAR  AWAY 

I  hear  the  banjos  playing 

And  I  hear  the  banjos  ring, 
I  hear  the  darkies  dancing 

And  I  hear  the  darkies  sing; 
And  my  heart  is  ever  longing 

For  that  ne'er  forgotten  day, 
When  I  was  down  in  Dixie 

In  Dixie  far  away. 


The  essence  of  Ole  Virginny 

And  the  fancy  buck  and  wing, 
The  banjos  still  are  playing 

While  the  darkies  dance  and  sing; 
My  steps  are  slow  and  feeble 

And  my  hair  is  turning  gray, 
But  my  heart  is  ever  longing 

For  the  Dixie  far  away. 


REFRAINS 

I  want  to  be  an  angel 
Dwelling  in  the  sky, 

I  want  to  be  an  angel, 
An  angel  when  I  die. 
68 


r 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Sonys 

Daniel  and  the  lion 

In  the  lion's  den, 
I  want  to  be  like  Daniel 

In  the  lion's  den. 

I  want  to  be  Elijah 

And   have   a   saint's   reward, 
I  want  to  be  Elijah 

Elijah  of  the  Lord. 


GLORY 

I  met  old  Satan  walking 

And  Satan  wanted  to  know, 
All  about  my  business 

And  where  I  was  going  to  go ; 
And  I  told  old  Satan  smiling 

When  he  wanted  to  know  my  name, 
Oh,  I  told  him,  Hallelujah! 

That  Glory  was  my  name. 

And  now  when  I  go  walking 

Old  Satan  don't  come  near, 
He  knows  I  am  converted 

And  that  my  skirts  are  clear ; 
And  when  old  Satan  smiling 

Wants  to  know  your  name, 
Oh  tell  him,  Hallelujah! 

That  Glory  is  your  name. 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


SATAN  AND  THE  SHEEP 

The  Lord  he  is  our  Shepherd 
And   we're  the   Lord's  black  sheep, 
Cut  along  old  Satan 
Cut  along  bo-peep. 

A  wolf  got  in  among  us 
When  we  were  fast  asleep, 
Cut  along  old  Satan 
Cut  along  bo-peep. 


But  the  Lord  he  sent  to  guard  us 
An  angel  in  our  sleep, 
Cut  along  old  Satan 
Cut  along  bo-peep. 

And  now  we  praise  the  Shepherd 
That  we  are  still  his  sheep, 
Cut  along  old  Satan 
Cut  along  bo-peep. 


70 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Sonys 


HOT  CORN 

Hot  corn!  hot  corn! 

Hot  corn,  good  and  hot, 
Hot  corn  on  the  fire 

And  hot  corn  in  the  pot; 
Come  and  get  your  hot  corn 

Come  and  get  it,  and 
You  won't  begrudge  the  nickel 

To  the  hot  corn  man. 


Hot  corn!  hot  com! 

Hot  corn,  good  and  hot, 
Hot  corn  on  the  fire 

And  boiling  in  the  pot; 
Just  you  try  that  hot  corn — 

Just  you  try  it,  and 
You  won't  begrudge  the  nickel 

To  the  hot  corn  man. 


Hot  corn!  hot  corn! 

Hot  corn,  good  and  hot, 
Hot  corn  on  the  fire 

And  steaming  in  the  pot; 
There's   the  salt  and   pepper — 

Eat  it  where  you  stand, 
And  you  won't  begrudge  the  nickel 

To  the  hot  corn  man. 

71 


Neffro  Poems,  Melodies 


Hot  corn!  hot  corn! 

Hot  corn  from  the  south, 
Growing  in  the  garden 

And  melting  in  the  mouth. 
See  me  shuck  that  hot  corn — 

See  me  shuck  it,  and 
You  won't  begrudge  the  nickel 

To  the  hot  corn  man. 


WHEN  YOU  GET  BACK  TO  DIXIE 

I'm  going  back  to  Dixie, 

My  heart  is  so  forlorn, 
I'm  going  back  to  Dixie, 

To  Dixie  in  the  morn  ; 
And  when  you  get  back  to  Dixie, 

To  Dixie  fond  and  true, 
Tell  all  my  friends  in  Dixie 

That  I  am  coming  too. 

I'm   going  back  to  Dixie, 

To  Dixie  and  the  corn, 
I'm  going  back  to  Dixie, 

For  I  was  Dixie  born; 
And  when  you  get  back  to  Dixie 

And  Dixie's  skies  so  blue, 
Tell  all  my  friends  in  Dixie 

That  I  am  coming  too. 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


THE  OLD  BLACK  MULE 

Whoa  dar,  Snowball, 

You  old  black  fool, 
Said  old  Tom  the  driver 

To  his  old  black  mule. 

Your  harness  am  easy 
And  your  load  am  light, 

So  quit  your  kicking 
And  all  that  spite. 

I  done  got  my  troubles 
With  dem  dar  wheels, 

Without  keeping  out  of 
The  reach  of  yo'  heels. 

And  den  such  manners 

I  nebber  did  see, 
Your  feet  am  a  showing 

Their  corns  to  me. 

You  ain't  an  angel 

And  you  can't  fly, 
So  quit  your  kicking 

Dem  heels  so  high. 

You  am  so  homely 

Arid  so  forlorn, 
A  pity  poor  Snowball 

You  ebber  was  born. 
73 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


I  jes'  done  gib  you 

All  yo'  oats, 
And  you  get  frighten' 

At  dem  steamboats. 

But  that  am  the  market 

Whar  this  cotton  am  gwine, 
And  say,  Mr.  Snowball, 

Whar  you  gwine? 

And  whar  am  the  money 
For  to  pay  the  rents? 

And  say,  Mr.  Snowball, 
Whar  am  yo'  sense? 

Ah  done  declare, 

Mah  gooodness  grace, 

If  dat  old  Snowball 
Done  bus'  a  trace. 


And  jes'  for  dat 

An'  breakin'  dem  names, 
I  done  call  you 

All  dem  names. 


See  dat  Snowball, 
See  dat  mule, 

Whoa  dar,  Snowball, 
You  big  ole  fool. 

74 


Plantation  Pieces,   Camp  Meeting  Songs 

You'll  get  a  good  supper 
And  you'll  get  a  good  bed, 

So  quit  that  fooling 

Or  I'll  break  your  head. 

And  the  mule  thinking  wisely 

Of  Tom  and  his  quip, 
Went  off  sedately 

To  the  touch  of  his  whip. 

And  sitting  by  the  wayside 
Of  the  thicket  and  the  pool, 

I  heard  Tom  lecture 
His  Old  Black  Mule. 


SPINDLES 

Dat  ole  Spindles  was  a  mule, 
A  graduate  of  every  mule  school. 
Golly!  golly!  how  dat  feels — 
Look  out  Spindles  fo'  dem  heels. 

He  kick  at  the  fly,  an'  he  kick  at  the  moon, 
He  kick  too  late,  an'  he  kick  too  soon — 
And  golly!  golly!  how  dat  feels — 
'Ware  ole  Spindles,  'ware  dem  heels. 

Ef  yo'  want  to  kick,  an'  kick  so  high — 
Just  push  dem  clouds  out  from  de  sky 
But  golly!  golly!  how  it  feels— 
To  get  in  touch  wif  Spindles'  heels. 

75 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


LICKIN'  THE  GOAT 

I  saw  a  big  nigger 

Butting  a  mule, 
He  butted  him  hot 

And  he  butted  him  cool; 
And  I  heard  him  say 

As  he  took  off  his  coat, 
"You  might  lick  a  nigger 

But  you  can't  lick  a  goat." 

He  butted  him  black 

And  he  butted  him  blue, 
And  he  almost  butted 

That  mule  in  two; 
And  I  heard  him  say 

As  he  put  on  his  coat, 
"You  might  lick  a  nigger 

But  you  can't  lick  a  goat." 

The  mule  he  stand 

And  the  mule  he  feel 
Jes'  like  a  prisoner 

When  he  steal; 
And  he  ought  to  know  better 

When  he  leave  his  cote, 
Not  to  go  fooling 

With  a  Billy  Goat. 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 

GRACIOUS  HOW  THAT  CHILE 
DONE  GROW 

Gracious!  how  that  chile  done  grow, 
Said  a  snowball  white  as  snow, 
To  a  sunflower  all  aglow — 
Gracious  how  that  chile  done  grow. 
Once  it  was  so  wee  and  small 

Now  it  is  so  big  and  tall, 

I  am  like  a  mite  below — 

Gracious !  how  that  chile  done  grow. 

LAMENTING  THE  CORN 

Rastus  limped  along  the  street, 
Something  the  matter  with  his  feet, 
He  wheezed,  he  shuffled  and  he  grunted 
Just  like  a  boar  by  hunters  hunted ; 
And  to  a  friend  who  asked  the  reason 
Of  such  distress  in  such  a  season, 
Rastus  all  his  pity  scorns 
And  simply  tells  about  his  corns ; 
My  corns  am  big,  my  corns  am  hot 
And  corns  am  all  mah  feet  has  got, 
And  if  these  corns  doan'  stop  their  achin' 
Ah'll  surely  think  mah  feet  am  bakin'; 
And  as  I  heard  his  lamentations 
I  thought  of  cornfields  and  plantations, 
For  Rastus  had  a  pair  of  feet 
Not  often  seen  upon  the  street; 
And  if  his  corns  hurt  to  their  size 
I  don't  wonder  at  his  cries. 
77 


Neffro  Poems,  Melodies 


MAMMY  I  LOVE  YOU 

Mammy  I  love  you, 
With  your  red  bandanna, 
And  Chloe  or  Hannah, 
Mammy  I  love  you. 

Mammy  I  love  you 
With  your  face  so  wrinkled, 
And  your  rings  that  tinkled, 
Mammy  I  love  you. 

Mammy  I  love  you, 
Jemina  or  Dinah, 
My  heart  will  shrine  her, 
Mammy  I  love  you. 

Mammy  I  love  you, 
The  Blacker  the  better, 
With  your  iron  fetter, 
Mammy  I  love  you. 

Mammy  I  love  you, 
With  your  kinky  hair, 
And  your  feet  so  bare, 
Mammy  I  love  you. 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


THE  GENTLEMEN  OF  THE  BONES 

Be  seated  merry  gentlemen, 

The  minstrel  show  is  on, 
The  coons  are  in  regalia 

And  their  dancing  shoes  they  don  ; 
And  then  you  hear  announcing 

In  the  most  alluring  tones, 
Mr.  Sam  is  tambo 

And  Mr.  Tarn  is  bones. 


The  sunflowers  are  in  blossom, 

The  sunflowers  are  in  bloom, 
And  sweet  the  balmy  incense 

That  floats  around  the  room; 
They  dance  just  like  the  crickets 

Would  dance  upon  the  stones, 
But  there's  nothing  like  the  playing 

Of  the  gem'men  with  the  bones. 


They  do  the  jig  and  two-step, 

They  do  the  fancy  reel, 
They're  dancing  with  the  toe-step 

And  dancing  with  the  heel; 
Up  and  down  they're  rolling, 

You  can  almost  hear  the  groans, 
And  see  the  eyelids  quivering 

Of  the  gem'men  with  the  bones. 

79 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


They  never  stop  for  succor, 

They  never  pause  for  rest, 
The  show  devolves  upon  them 

And  they're  giving  up  their  best; 
The  tambos  tinkle  merrily 

And  sweet  the  banjo's  tones, 
But  there's  nothing  like  the  playing 

Of  the  gem 'men  of  the  bones. 


THE  MISSISSIPPI 

Roll  on-,  Mississippi — 

Roll  on,  wide  and  deep, 
I  see  the  shadows  coming 

And  I  see  the  shadows  creep ; 
There  are  windings  there  are  turnings, 

There's  the  shallow  and  the  ford, 
Rush  by,  river,  rush  by — 

Rush  by  to  the  Lord. 

Roll  on,  Mississippi —        , 

Roll  on,  between  your  banks, 
There  are  cabins  in  your  forests 

And  cornfields  on  your  flanks; 
The  darkies'  work  is  over, 

At  rest  the  hoe  and  gourd, 
Rush  by,  river,  rush  by — 

Rush  by  to  the  Lord. 


80 


Plantation  Pieces t  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


ANGEL  SOUND  THAT  TRUMP 

Angel!  sound  that  trump, 

That  great  good  day  proclaim, 

When  I  shall  stand  before  the  Lord 
And  hear  his  blessed  name. 

Angel!  sound  that  trump, 
And  sound  it  loud  and  clear, 

Which  tells  the  judgment  day  is  come 
And  Christ  the  Lord  is  here. 

And  angel  sound  that  trump! 

For  I  want  to  hear  the  sound, 
Which  tells  the  Lord  is  near  at  hand 

And  Moses  done  come  round. 


DON'T  YOU  WANT  TO  GO  ALONG 

A  mighty  tide  is  rising 

And  it's  rising  very  fast, 
And  the  ark  is  ready  waiting 

And  it's  waiting  to  the  last; 
It's  going  down  the  river, 

Don't  you  want  to  go  along? 
And   there's   room   for  every   sinner 

If  you'll  only  go  along. 
81 


Neffro  Poems,  Melodies 


The  tide  is  on  the  river 

And  the  tide  is  on  the  shore, 
And  the  ark  is  rocking,  rocking 

Like  it  never  did  before; 
It's  going  down  the  river, 

Don't  you  want  to  go  along? 
And  there's  room  for  every  sinner 

If  you'll  only  go  along. 


THE  GOLDEN  STAIR 

When  I  go  up  that  golden  stair 
Them  golden  slippers  I  am  gwine  to  wear, 
And  all  my  friends  will  be  waiting  there 
When  I  go  up  that  golden  stair. 

That  golden  stair,  that  golden  stair, 
When  I  go  up  that  golden  stair, 
Them  golden  slippers  I  am  gwine  to  wear 
When  I  go  up  that  golden  stair. 

Moses  will  be  waiting  there 

And  Canaan  show  its  face  so  fair, 

And  them  golden  slippers  I  am  gwine  to  wear 

When  I  go  up  that  golden  stair. 

That  golden  stair,  that  golden  stair, 
When  I  go  up  that  golden  stair, 
Them  golden  slippers  I  am  gwine  to  wear 
When  I  go  up  that  golden  stair. 
82 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


DOWN  UPON  THE  LEVEE 

Down  upon  the  levee 
The  moon  is  all  aglow, 

Down  upon  the  levee 
Where  the  coons  all  go. 


The  river  seems  to  slumber 
So  peaceful  is  its  flow, 

Down  upon  the  levee 
Where  the  coons  all  go. 

There  goes  a  dusky  maiden 
With  her  banjo  and  her  beau, 

Down  upon  the  levee 
Where  the  coons  all  go. 


There  is  music,  there  is  dancing 
With  the  fiddle  and  the  bow, 

Down  upon  the  levee 
Where  the  coons  all  go. 

And  if  I  was  in  Dixie 

The  first  place  I  would  go, 

Would  be  down  upon  the  levee 
Where  the  coons  all  go. 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


RAGTIME 

Ragtime,  ragtime, 

That  am  a  happy  time, 
Down  around  the  levee 

In  the  evening  time; 
The  banjos  am  a  playing 

And  the  feet  begin  to  chime, 
Down  around  the  levee 

In  the  evening  time. 

Ragtime,  ragtime, 

That  am  a  happy  time, 
Down  around  the  levee 

In  the  evening  time; 
The  fiddles  am  a  playing 

And  the  song  begins  to  chime, 
Down  around  the  levee 

In  the  evening  time. 

Ragtime,  ragtime, 

That  am  a  happy  time, 
Down  around  the  levee 

In  the  evening  time; 
The  boys  are  bright  and  jolly 

And  the  girls  are  just  sublime, 
Down  around  the  levee 

In  the  evening  time. 

84 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


RASTUS  JOHNSON'S  IDYL  TO  HIS  MULE 

Git  ap,  git  ap, 

You  lazy  old  mule, 
You  never  went  to  college 

And  you  never  went  to  school; 
You  haven't  any  manners 

And  you're  nothing  but  a  fool, 
Git  ap,  git  ap, 

You  lazy  old  mule. 


Git  ap,  git  ap, 

You  lazy  old  mule, 
I  could  hit  you  with  a  hammer 

And  hit  you  with  a  stool; 
You  never  keep  a  promise 

And  you  never  keep  a  rule, 
Git  ap,  git  ap, 

You  scalawag  mule. 


Git'ap,  git  ap, 

You  lazy  old  mule, 
I  done  a  lot  of  swearing 

Since  I  had  that  mule; 
You're  nothing  but  a  nuisance 

And  you're  nothing  but  a  fool, 
Git  ap,  git  ap, 

You  lazy  old  mule. 

85 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


Git  ap,  git  ap, 

You  scandalous  old  mule, 
I'll  never  get  to  heaven 

If  I  drive  that  mule; 
You're  nothing  but  a  nigger 

And  you're  nothing  but  a  fool, 
And  Rastus  Johnson  ended 

His  idyl  to  his  mule. 


DOING  THE  BEST  Hi;E  CAN 

The  mule  he  got  a  very  big  load 

And  he  go  up  the  hill, 
And  he  pull,  and  pull,  and  pull,  and  pull 

But  that  wagon  done  keep  still ; 
The  driver  start  to  get  his  whip, 

The  mule  he  saw  his  hand, 
And  he  say  to  that  driver,  hold  that  whip 

Foh  ahm  doing  the  best  ah  can. 

You  might  help  lighten  up  mah  load 

By  walking  up  this  hill, 
You  might  done  let  me  rest  a  bit 

When  I  done  do  your  will. 
The  flies  done  bite  me  mos'  to  death, 

Mah  shoes  burn  in  the  sand, 
And  when  you  start  to  use  that  whip 

Ahm  doing  the  best  ah  can. 


86 


Plantation  Pieces f  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


WHEN  THE  COONS  ALL  COME  AROUND 

Down  in  old  Virginia 

My  father  had  a  farm, 
The  nights  were  long  and  lovely 

And  the  days  were  bright  and  warm; 
And  of  all  the  grinning  faces 

That  ever  made  a  sound, 
You  ought  to  hear  the  laughing 

When  the  coons  all  came  around. 


The  morning  had  its  labor, 

The  cotton  fields  their  share, 
And  evening  had  its  pleasure 

When  we  were  gathered  there; 
And  of  all  the  fancy  jumping 

That  ever  stirred  the  ground, 
You  ought  to  see  the  dancing 

When  the  coons  all  came  around. 

And  dulcet  was  the  music 

And  dulcet  were  the  tones, 
And  dulcet  was  the  banjo 

And  dulcet  were  the  bones ; 
And  of  all  the  happy  hours 

That  ever  did  abound, 
That  happiest  were  the  happiest 

When  the  coons  all  came  around. 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


GLORY!  HALLELUJAH! 

When  I  die  I  want  to  go 

With  all  the  darkies  that  I  know, 

Glory!  Hallelujah! 

Moses  come  and  take  my  hand 
Lead  me  to  that  better  land, 
Glory!  Hallelujah! 

Over  the  river,  over  the  ford, 
Over  the  darkness  to  my  Lord, 
Glory!  Hallelujah! 

Let  me  then  my  Jesus  see, 
Let  him  smile  his  smile  on  me, 
Glory!  Hallelujah! 

Let  the  bells  of  heaven  ring, 
Let  the  angels  start  to  sing, 
Glory!  Hallelujah! 

My  old  Mammy  I  shall  see, 
Ephraim  too  will  welcome  me, 
Glory!  Hallelujah! 

For  when  I  die  I  want  to  go 
With  all  the  darkies  that  I  know, 
Oh  Glory  Hallelujah! 
88 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


MANDY 

I  know  a  buxom 

And  Mandy's  her  name, 
Her  eyes  are  like  opals, 

Her  teeth  are  the  same; 
Her  lips  are  like  rubies 

Now  scarlet  now  flame, 
I  know  a  buxom 

And  Mandy's  her  name. 

I  know  a  buxom 

And  Mandy's  her  name, 
From   magnolia   and   moonlight 

And  Dixie  she  came; 
Her  voice  is  like  music, 

Her  smile  is  the  same, 
I  know  a  buxom 

And  Mandy's  her  name. 

THE  NIGGER 

The  Lord  He  made  the  nigger 
And  He  made  him  in  the  night, 

He  made  him  for  the  sunshine 
And  He  made  him  for  the  light. 

He  took  a  piece  of  cotton 
And  He  stuck  it  in  his  eye, 

And  you'll  always  see  a  nigger 
Like  a  cloud  roll  by. 

89 


Poems,  Melodies 


The  Lord  He  made  the  nigger 
And  He  made  him  in  the  night, 

He  made  him  for  the  sunshine 
And  He  made  him  for  the  light. 

He  made  him  in  a  hurry 

And  He  made  him  to  be  heard, 
And  you'll  always  hear  a  nigger 

And  he's  singing  like  a  bird. 


A  REAL  GOOD  TIME 

"There's  going  to  be  a  party," 

Said  Mr.  Jackson  Jones, 
A  rather  swarthy  gentleman 

And  almost  skin  and  bones; 
"There'll  be  music,  there'll  be  dancing, 

There'll  be  chicken  fat  and  prime, 
And  sharpen  up  your  razors 

Fo'  a  real  good  time. 

"Ahm  going  to  that  party, 

And  ahm  going  to  meet  a  coon, 

And  settle  a  liP  argument 
Right  in  that  party  room; 

There'll  be  music,  there'll  be  dancing, 
There'll  be  chicken  fat  and  prime, 

A.nd  bring  along  your  razors 
Fo'  a  real  good  time." 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


TAKE  THAT  FIDDLE  ALONG 

Old  Moses  he  am  calling, 

He  am  calling  me  away, 
I  hear  it  all  the  night  time 

And  I  hear  it  all  the  day. 

I  don't  mind  this  here  journey, 

It  will  not  be  for  long, 
But  when  I  take  this  journey 

I  want  my  fiddle  along. 

I  ain't  got  much  to  leave  you, 

I  gave  my  soul  away, 
But  that  fiddle  was  my  company 

Through  many  a  weary  day. 

And  when  I  go  to  heaven, 

It  will  not  now  be  long, 
I'll  leave  all  else  behind  me 

But  I  want  that  fiddle  along. 

The  ague  and  the  rheumatiz 
Have  done  got  in  my  bones, 

And  the  only  medicine  that  I  know 
Am  that  ole  fiddle's  tones. 

And  when  the  harps  and  seraphs 

Are  where  they  all  belong, 
Oh  then  I'll  be  so  happy 

To  have  that  fiddle  along. 

91 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


I  know  its  old  and  wormy 

And  the  bow  and  strings  not  strong, 
But  while  I  am  in  heaven 

I  want  that  fiddle  along. 

And  mebbe  that  ole  Moses 

When  I  tune  up  a  song, 
Will  say  I'm  glad  old  Ephraim 

You  took  that  fiddle  along. 


GWINE  AWAY  FOR  CHRISTMAS 

Dear  friends  Fse  got  to  tell  you, 

I'se  got  to  tell  the  news, 
Fse  gwine  away  for  Christmas 

And  I'se  gwine  to  have  new  shoes. 

The  Lord  he  saw  me  walking 
And  the  Lord  he  says  to  me, 

Just  come  and  see  me  Christmas 
And  see  what  you  will  see. 

And  the  Lord  done  give  his  blessing 
And  the  Lord  done  give  his  hand, 

And  he  make  Ole  Dinah  happy 
To  see  that  Christmas  land. 

So  Fse  gwine  away  for  Christmas, 
Gwine  to  that  happy  shore, 

Fse  gwine  away  for  Christmas 
And  I  won't  come  back  no  more. 
92 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


THE  PARSON'S  SERMON 

"Brethren  and   Sistern,"  said   Parson  Jones, 

Raising  his  voice  to  its  loudest  tones, 

"The  collection  box  am  a  gwine  aroun' 

And  some  of  that  noise  has  a  funny  soun'; 

It  am  just  like  a  beggar  with  his  pleas  and  groans, 

The  thanks  am  many  and  so  am  the  bones. 

"Some  fo'ks  I  know  am  quite  so  mean 
The  collection  box  am  nebber  seen, 
But  whar  there's  money  lost  and  foun' 
There's  them  niggers  nosin'  aroun'; 
I  doan'  want,  I  done  tole  you  befo' 
And  keep  your  han's  off  the  pahsons  door. 

"The  Lawd  done  love  a  cheerful  giver, 

The  Lawd  done  love,  but  it  make  me  shiver, 

How  it  gwine  to  be  without  a  cent 

A  pahson  gwine  to  preach  and  pay  his  rent; 

Ef  you  tell  me,  can  tell  me  true 

What  am  the  meaning  of  dem  I.  O.  U. 

"Aigs  am  aigs,  and  shells  am  shells 

An'  weddin'  bells  am  weddin'  bells, 

But  I  done  say  this  pahson  am  through 

With  fricassed  liver,  and  roustabout  stew; 

It's  time  for  the  pahson  to  have  a  chicken  dinner 

And  for  that  chicken  I'll  forgive  that  sinner." 

93 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


Early  next  morning  on  the  parson's  stoop 
There  hung  a  fat  pullet  from  a  neighbor's  coop, 
And  written  on  a  paper  in  a  tremulous  print 
Was  this  transcript  of  the  parson's  hint: 
Here  am  the  chicken  for  the  pahson's  dinner 
And  it's  up  to  the  pahson  to  save  that  sinner. 


THE  COTTON  FIELDS  OF  GEORGIA 

The  fields  are  bright,  and  the  fields  are  white 

Down  on  the  old  plantation, 
And  the  darkies  chant,  and  the  darkies  pant 

Some  lullaby  incantation; 
And  the  blossoms  blow,  and  the  blossoms  grow 

And  the  fields  are  all  in  order, 
And  down  the  row — the  darkies  go, 

In  the  cotton  fields  of  Georgia. 

The  blackbird  swings,  and  the  blackbird  sings 

His  morning  incantation, 
And  the  hawthorn  white,  is  a  cheery  sight, 

Down  on  the  old  plantation; 
And  the  blossoms  blow  and  the  blossoms  grow 

And  the  fields  are  all  in  order, 
And  down  the  row — the  darkies  go, 

In  the  cotton  fields  of  Georgia. 


94 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


RIGHT  AWAY 

I  sent  a  message 

To  the  Lord  on  high, 
To  find  me  a  place 

In  the  big  blue  sky; 
I  called  to  an  angel 

And  gave  him  my  note, 
And  the  angel  went  away 

In  a  cloudy  boat ; 
And  what  do  you  think 

The  Lord  done  say, 
Come  up  chillun 

Right  away. 

Right  away  chillun,  right  away, 
Come  up  chillun,  right  away. 

I  asked  the  Lord 

When  we  were  alone, 
To  give  me  a  place 

On  the  big  white  throne; 
For  I  saw  Daniel 

And  I  saw  John, 
All  with  the  robes 

Of  the  angels  on ; 
The  Lord  he  smile 

And  the  Lord  he  say, 
Come  up  chillun    , 

Right  away. 

95 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


Right  away  chillun,  right  away, 
Come  up  chillun,  right  away. 


THE  FIERY  FURNACE 

The  fiery  furnace  am  burning  hot 
And  burning  hot  in  every  spot, 
And  where  am  the  sinner  gwine  to  turn 
When  the  fiery  furnace  burn  and  burn. 

The  fiery  furnace  am  so  red — 
The  flames  jump  up  right  over  your  head 
And  where  am  the  sinner  gwine  to  turn 
When  the  fiery  furnace  burn  and  burn. 

The  devil  stands  beside  that  fire 
While  the  flames  go  shooting  higher, 
And  where  am  the  sinner  gwine  to  turn 
When  the  fiery  furnace  burn  and  burn. 

The  fiery  furnace  am  down  below 
Where  all  the  sinners  have  got  to  go, 
And  where  am  the  sinner  gwine  to  turn 
When  the  fiery  furnace  burn  and  burn. 

And  when  I  die,  Oh  Lord!  I  pray, 
Keep  me  away  from  that  place  that  day, 
For  where  am  the  sinner  gwine  to  turn 
When  the  fiery  furnace  burn  and  burn. 

96 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


PICKANINNY  POMPEY 

Pickaninny  Pompey 

Smiling  meek  and  bland, 
Says  "Good  morning,  Massa, 

I'se  cum  sah  for  the  can. 


"Mammy  is  a  milking, 
The  milk  is  in  the  pan, 

And  Mammy  says  go  hurry 
And  get  the  Massa's  can.'* 

And  Pickaninny  Pompey 
Wonder  eyed  and  bland, 

Says  "Good  morning,  Massa" 
As  I  watch  him  stand. 


I  like  this  little  Pompey 
And  so  I  take  his  hand, 

And  say  to  little  Pompey 
"Cum  Sah  when  you  can." 


97 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


RASTUS  JOHNSON 

Rastus  Johnson  was  a  coon, 

Holy  smoke  what  eyes! 
As  big  as  any  shining  moon 

Shining  in  the  skies; 
Eyes  all  big  and  glorious. 

Eyes  that  would  surprise, 
And  if  you  doubt  he  is  a  coon 

Just  you  see  dem  eyes. 

Rastus  Johnson  was  a  coon, 

Holy  smoke  what  eyes! 
As  bright  as  any  shining  moon 

Shining  in  the  skies; 
Eyes  all  big  and  glistening, 

Eyes  that  would  surprise, 
And  if  you  doubt  he  is  a  coon 

Just  you  see  dem  eyes. 


THE  PICKANINNY  BAND 

Rastus  is  a  crying — 

He  hurt  his  HP  hand, 
And  that's  the  way  they  start  it, 

This  pickaninny  band. 

98 


Plantation  Pieces f   Camp  Meeting  Songs 

And  Hannah  wants  some  hoe  cake, 
The  hoe  cake  in  the  pan, 

And  then  you  hear  a  solo 
From  the  pickaninny  band. 

And  Caesar  Alexander 

Is  a  quarreling  in  the  sand, 

Another  active  member 
Of  the  pickaninny  band. 

And  all  day  long  and  evening 

From  Beersheba  to  Dan, 
They're  playing  and  parading, 

This  pickaninny  band. 


THAT  OLD  FLY 

That  old  fly  done  pester  me — 

Go  way  dar  and  let  me  sleep, 

I  hear  him  buzz  and  I  hear  him  creep — 

Go  way  dar  and  let  me  sleep ; 

You  suah  done  make  the  angels  weep — 

Go  way  dar  and  let  me  sleep, 

You  bite  the  horse  and  you  bite  the  sheep — 

Go  way  dar  and  let  me  sleep, 

And  for  the  land's  sake  I  don't  want  to  die 

Boddered  to  death  by  that  old  fly. 


99 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


THE  LIABILITY 

Old  Uncle  Mose  was  explaining  in  detail 
High  finance  to  his  friend  Mr.  Quail, 
"An  asset  am  this,"  said  old  Uncle  Mose 
Pointing  with  pride  to  his  tattered  clothes; 
"It's  what  you  have,  and  what  you  got — 
Cash  in  hand  and  on  the  spot, 
And  a  liability  am  what  you  owe — 
And  you  have  no  money  for  that  debt  to  show; 
It  am  just  like  a  chicken,  that  you  want  to  borrow 
And  liability  says  come  around  to  morrow." 
"Am  that  a  liability?"  says  suspicious  Mr.  Quail. 
"If  that's  a  liability  so  am  the  jail." 


THE  MENU 

The  African  Methodist  Episcopal  churches 

Were  having  a  picnic  on  the  birches, 

And  Rastus  Johnson  to  show  his  friends 

His  razor  from  his  hip  unbends; 

An  officer  saw  the  hostile  act 

And  thought  a  row  was  on  in  fact, 

So  without  his  intervention 

He  thought  it  best  to  simply  mention 

The  menu  of  the  eats  done  say 

No  smoked  beef  or  hash  today. 


100 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Sonpr 


BALM  OF  GILEAD 

Can  you  imagine  a  cabin  small 
Without  a  kitchen  or  a  hall  ? 
And  baking  in  a  possum  pan; 
A  possum  in  the  possum  land ; 
And  gathered  round  it  with  their  croons 
With  eyes  as  big  and  bright  as  moons, 
A  bunch  of  grinning  pickaninnies — 
Hannahs,  Chloes,  Dinahs,  Minnies; 
And  then  the  mutual  exclamation 
Half  in  phrensy  and  elation, 
Golly  see  that  possum  Iliad 
That  am  suah  a  balm  of  Gilead. 


THE  ALLIGATOR 

Whenever  you  see  a  nigger 

With  a  little  mouth, 
Running  north 

And  running  south, 
And  with  a  cavern 

Like  an  extinct  crater, 
That  isn't  a  nigger 

That's  an  alligator. 


ipi 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


THE  BANJO 

The  banjo,  banjo,  banjo  bring, 
Let  the  banjo,  banjo  ring, 
For  my  spirit  only  sings 
When  the  banjo,  banjo  rings. 


The  banjo,  banjo  bring, 

Let  the  banjo,  banjo  ring, 

Then  I'm  crowned  among  the  kings 

When  the  banjo,  banjo  rings. 


BRUSH  DEM  TEARS  AWAY 

The  darkies  weep  and  the  darkies  pray, 
Brush,  oh  brush  dem  tears  away, 
Bring  in  a  chicken  on  a  tray, 
Brush,  oh  brush  dem  tears  away. 


And  then  a  big  watermelon  in  the  same  way, 
Brush,  oh  brush  dem  tears  away, 
And  when  they  are  through  you  will  hear  them  say 
All  dem  tears  am  brushed  away. 


I O2 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


WHEN  THE  GOLDEN  TRUMPETS 
SOUND 

When  the  golden  trumpets  sound 
Where  will  your  soul  be  found, 
Standing  around,  standing  around, 
When  the  golden  trumpets  sound. 
When  the  golden  trumpets  sound 
Where  will  my  soul  be  found, 
With  the  crowned,  with  the  crowned, 
When  the  golden  trumpets  sound. 


RASTUS'  FATE 

Rastus  Johnson  had  a  cough 
And  his  demise  was  not  far  off, 
He  called  the  doctor,  called  the  nurse 
And  said,  "My  cough  is  getting  worse"; 
The  doctor  cautioned  rest  and  quiet 
And  put  a  ban  on  Rastus'  diet, 
No  more  chicken  no  more  pie 
"Stop!"  said  Rastus  with  a  sigh, 
"No  more  chicken,  no  more  pie? 
Go  away  doctor  let  me  die." 


103 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


THE  WHANGDOODLE  BAND 

I  went  to  hear  a  parson  preach 

A  sermon  in  a  church, 
And  all  the  coons  were  gathered  round 

Wherever  they  could  perch. 

The  parson  preached  about  a  trump 
And  cymbals  clang  and  bang, 

Until  the  carpets  took  a  jump 
And  all  the  rafters  rang. 

But  Hannah  Jones  commenced  to  snore 
When  listless  dropped  her  hand, 

And  that  immediately  started  off 
The  whole  whangdoodle  band. 

And  brother  Thomas  with  his  bass 

Essayed  to  lead  the  score, 
Until  it  seemed  a  storm  had  broke 

And  muffled  in  its  roar. 

And  Ephraim  Squires  solos  played 

In  such  astounding  tunes, 
The  echoes  traveled  to  the  skies 

And  floated  to  the  moons. 

And  so  it  went  from  flute  to  flute, 

From  cornet  to  the  drum, 
You  thought  the  Lord  was  surely  here 

And  all  his  kingdom  come. 

104 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 

I  never  heard,  I  never  saw 

A  parson  get  so  mad, 
He  exasperated  all  the  good 

And  eulogised  the  bad. 

The  parson  shouted  and  he  raved 
And  clenched  it  with  his  hand, 

The  Lord  have  mussy  on  the  souls 
Of  that  whangdoodle  band. 


RASTUS  AND  HIS  BANJO 

Plunkety,  plunkety,  plunkety,  plunk, 
Plunkety,  plunkety,  plunk,  plunk,  plunk, 

Plunkety,  plunkety,  plunkety,  plunk — 
Plunkety,  plunkety,  plunk,  plunk,  plunk. 

Ah  done  love  mah  honey  all  mah  days, 
Ah  done  love  mah  honey  and  her  ways, 

Ah  done  love  into  her  eyes  to  gaze — 
Ah  done  love  mah  honey  all  mah  days. 

Plunkety,  plunkety,  plunkety,  plunk, 
Plunkety,  plunkety,  plunk,  plunk,  plunk, 

Plunkety,  plunkety,  plunkety,  plunk — 
Plunkety,  plunkety,  plunk,  plunk,  plunk. 

Ah  done  love  mah  honey  all  mah  days, 
Ah  done  love  mah  honey's  ways  to  praise, 

Ah  done  love  mah  honey's  honey  ways — 
Ah  done  love  mah  honey  all  mah  days. 
105 


Neffro  Poems,  Melodies 


MASSA'S  GONE  AWAY 

Massa's  gone  away, 

Massa's  gone  away, 
I  smell  it  in  the  clover 

And  I  smell  it  in  the  hay; 
The  cocks  don't  crow  so  loudly, 

The  mules  don't  seem  to  neigh, 
And  everything  is  lonely 

Since  Massa's  gone  away. 

The  honey-suckle  lingers 

Around  my  cabin  door, 
But  gone  it  all  its  sweetness 

And  all  its  bloom  is  o'er ; 
And  everywhere  I  wander 

My  footsteps  seem  to  say, 
How  lonely  is  the  homestead 

Since  Massa's  gone  away. 

SLAVERY  DAYS 

Slavery  days,  slavery  days, 
They  are  gone  with  all  their  ways, 
Gone  the  hound  and  gone  the  hoe, 
Gone  the  labor  and  the  woe  ; 
Gone  the  hardship  and  the  curse, 
Gone  the  better  and  the  worse, 
And  our  hearts  are  full  of  praise 
For  the  last  of  slavery  days. 
106 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 

Slavery  days,  slavery  days, 
They  are  gone  with  all  their  ways, 
Gone  the  block  and  gone  the  lash, 
Gone  the  blow  and  gone  the  gash; 
Gone  the  pillar  and  the  chain, 
Gone  the  stigma  and  the  pain, 
And  our  hearts  are  full  of  praise 
For  the  last  of  slavery  days. 


MELON  TIME  IN  GEORGIA 

The  stars  begin  to  twinkle, 

The  stars  begin  to  shine, 
What  makes  those  optics  kindle, 

What  makes  those  optics  shine? 
And  when  you  see  them  kindle 

And  when  you  see  them  shine, 
It's  melon  time  in  Georgia 

And  there's  melons  on  the  vine. 

The  stars  begin  to  twinkle, 

The  stars  begin  to  shine, 
With  ecstasy  they  kindle, 

With  ecstasy  they  shine; 
And  when  you  see  them  kindle 

It  always  is  the  sign, 
It's  melon  time  in  Georgia 

And  there's  melons  on  the  vine. 


107 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


THE  STEAMBOAT  RIDE 

All  aboard  the  Natchez, 

All  aboard  the  Lee, 
All  aboard  for  Vicksburg, 

Or  Memphis,  Tennessee: 
They're  tugging  on  the  hawser 

And  tugging  on  the  tide 
And  it's  all  aboard  the  steamboat 

For  a  steamboat  ride. 


Now  shfe  blows  the  whistle 

And  now  she  blows  the  steam, 
Now  she's  on  the  river 

And  going  down  the  stream: 
They're  going  down  the  river 

And  running  with  the  tide 
And  it's  all  aboard  the  steamboat 

For  a  steamboat  ride. 


Now  they're  in  the  current 

And  racing  like  a  team, 
Smoking  are  the  funnels 

And  busy  is  the  beam: 
They're  going  down  the  river 

And  going  with  the  tide 
And  it's  all  aboard  the  steamboat 

For  a  steamboat  ride. 
108 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 

The  darkies  trim  the  cotton 

And  the  darkies  trim  the  corn ; 
They're  piling  on  the  fuel 

And  the  whistle  is  the  horn : 
Going  down  the  river 

Like  snowy  swans  they  glide 
And  it's  all  aboard  the  steamboat 

For  a  steamboat  ride. 

Merry  blow,  the  whistles, 

Merry  ring  the  bells; 
Churning  are  the  paddles 

And  foamy  are  the  swells: 
And  going  down  the  river 

Running  with  the  tide, 
What  a  glorious  feeling 

On  a  steamboat  ride. 


THE  ORDERS 

Orders  please,  orders  gents — 
The  dinner  am  ready  and  fifty  cents. 
Chicken,  watermelon,  watermelon,  chicken 
How  dem  orders  thicken,  thicken. 
Orders  please,  orders  gents — 
The  dinner  am  ready  and  fifty  cents. 
Chicken,  watermelon,  watermelon,  chicken. 
How  dem  orders  quicken,  quicken. — 
Look  at  the  reason,  look  at  dem  moons, 
All  dem  orders  come  from  coons. 
109 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


MY  RUBY  RED  ROSE 

My  rose  is  a  red  rose 

A  rose  you  can  see, 
'Tis  the  rose  of  the  garland 

They  call  Tennessee. 

Her  eyes  are  like  diamonds 
The  diamonds  that  shine, 

And  her  lips  are  like  corals 
And  the  pearls  they  entwine. 


The  damasks  of  the  morning 
Ere  the  sun  hath  arose, 

Are  seen  in  the  bosoms 
Of  my  ruby  red  rose. 

My  rose  is  a  red  rose 

A  rose  you  can  see, 
'Tis  the  rose  of  the  garland 

They  call  Tennessee. 


1 10 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


DIXIE  SO  DEAR 

There's  a  little  log  cabin  in  Dixie, 

In  Dixie,  in  Dixie  so  dear, 
And  often  I  think  of  the  sunflower 

And  often  I  wish  I  was  near; 
There's  a  river  that  flows  just  beside  it, 

There's  a  wood  that  is  open  and  clear, 
And  often  I  wish  I  was  in  it — 

In  Dixie,  in  Dixie  so  dear. 

The  face  of  my  mother  before  me 

The  children  at  play  on  the  floor, 
Are  things  that  I  often  remember 

And  things  that  I  often  adore; 
The  lark  has  a  nest  in  the  wildwood, 

The  voice  of  the  cushat  is  near, 
And  often  I  wish  I  was  in  it, 

In  Dixie,  in  Dixie  so  dear. 


in 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


MY  PRETTY  CREOLE  BELLE 

My  pretty  Creole  belle — 
How  like  a  rose  you  smell — 
Thou  hast  a  charm,  my  heart  to  balm, 
My  pretty  Creole  belle. 

By  the  deep  lagoon — 

And  the  light  of  the  moon — 

I  am  coming  soon,  I  am  coming  soon, 

My  pretty  Creole  belle. 

My  pretty  Creole  belle — 

How  can  thy  charms  I  tell — 

Thy  soul  brown  eyes,  they  fervid  dyes, 

My  pretty  Creole  belle. 


My  pretty  Creole  belle — 
Could  love  devotion  tell — 
I'd  sigh  for  you,  I'd  die  for  you, 
My  pretty  Creole  belle. 


112 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


FOAH  O'CLOCK  IN  THE  MORNING 

Old  Dixy  was  a  bondman 

Down  in  Dixie  land, 
Down  in  dear  old  Dixie, 

Dixie,  Dixie  land  ; 
And  early  in  the  morning 

When  daylight  lit  the  bush, 
I  seem  to  see  old  Dixy 

A  crooning  with  the  thrush. 


'Tis  foah  o'clock  in  the  morning 

And  the  sun  begins  to  shine, 
The  clover  am  in  blossom 

And  the  leaf  am  on  the  vine; 
'Tis  foah  o'clock  in  the  morning 

And  the  bird  am  in  the  tree, 
And  foah  o'clock  in  the  morning 

Am  just  the  time  for  me. 


The  snow  has  long  since  whitened 

Old  Dixy's  head  and  hands, 
Down  in  dear  old  Dixie, 

Dixie's,  Dixie's  lands; 
And  early  in  the  morning 

When  daylight  lights  the  bush, 
I  seem  to  hear  old  Dixy 

A  crooning  with  the  thrush. 


Poems,  Melodies 


'Tis  foah  o'clock  in  the  morning 

And  the  wash  am  on  the  line, 
The  sheep  have  gone  to  pasture 

And  the  milkmaid  calls  the  kine; 
'Tis  foah  o'clock  in  the  morning 

And  yonder  flies  the  bee, 
And  foah  o'clock  in  the  morning 

Am  just  the  time  for  me. 


And  I  have  pictured  Dixy 

Somewhere  in  some  land, 
I  hope  it  will  be  Dixie, 

Dear  old  Dixie  land ; 
When  the  dawn  is  ever  radiant 

And  its  splendor  gilds  the  bush, 
And  old  Dixy  sits  a  crooning 

And  warbling  with  the  thrush. 


'Tis  foah  o'clock  in  the  morning 

And  the  bird  is  in  the  tree, 
But  Massa  says  a  bondman 

I  must  no  longer  be; 
The  Lord  bress  dear  ole  Massa 

For  he  done  set  me  free, 
But  foah  o'clock  in  the  morning 

Am  good  enough  for  me. 


114 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


IF  CHICKENS  WERE  CROWS 

If  crows  were  chickens 

What  a  feast  I'd  have, 
Even  if  dem  crows 

You  "would  have  to  halve; 
I'd  have  dem  fedders 

For  to  make  mah  bed, 
And  I'd  wear  dem  fedders 

All  over  mah  head. 


And  in  de  mawning 

When  ah  wanted  to  snore, 
You  wouldn't  hear  dem  crows 

With  their  caw !  caw !  caw ! 
But  if  chickens  were  crows 

Ah  done  hoi'  mah  breath, 
For  if  chickens  were  crows 

Ah  done  starve  to  death. 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


CHICKENS 

The  parson  man  was  praying 

And  praying  long  and  loud, 
And  praying  to  dem  niggers 

In  that  congregation  crowd; 
The  parson  man  am  hungry 

And  the  church  rent  must  be  found, 
So  don't  forget  these  prayers 

When  the  basket  comes  around. 

And  each  and  every  nigger 

With  pity  in  his  eyes, 
Fingered  in  his  pockets 

And  turned  them  to  the  skies; 
You  heard  the  benediction 

And  the  ticking  of  the  clock, 
When  someone  shouted  chickens 

And  stampeded  all  the  flock. 

THE  EAGLE  AND  THE  ROOSTER 

The  eagle  is  a  dandy  bird 

He  sits  upon  his  perch, 
Just  like  a  flock  of  pigeons 

In  the  belfry  of  a  church; 
But  when  that  eagle  starts  to  scream 

And  flap  his  wings  in  air, 
Excuse  me  fob  a  minute 

But  I'd  rather  not  be  there. 
116 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 

The  rooster  is  a  dandy  bird, 

He  sits  upon  his  perch 
Just  like  a  handsome  lady 

In  the  bosom  of  her  church; 
And  when  that  rooster  starts  to  crow 

And  flap  his  wings  in  air, 
Excuse  me  foh  a  minute 

But  I'd  rather  then  be  there. 


DOWN  IN  GEORGIA 

I  saw  an  aged  negro, 

His  hair  as  white  as  snow, 
And  he  was  pondering  deeply 

The  daj^s  of  long  ago ; 
His  thoughts  were  running  backward 

His  eyes  bent  to  the  ground, 
And  he  was  murmuring  Georgia 

And  Missus  walking  around. 

And  as  I  saw  him  brooding 

Beneath  an  old  oak  tree, 
It  needed  no  great  urging 

To  bring  his  past  to  me  ; 
I  saw  him  in  the  cotton, 

The  cotton  row  on  row, 
I  saw  him  in  the  cornfield 

And  I  saw  him  with  the  hoe. 
117 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


I  saw  the  old  plantation 

A  home  to  him  no  more, 
A  cabin  small  and  homely 

And  children  round  the  door; 
And  flowers  wreathing  roses 

And  breathing  sweets  around, 
And  this  was  down  in  Georgia 

And  Missus  walking  around. 

I  know  he  was  a  bondman, 

His  flesh  still  lacked  the  pound, 
For  he  was  murmuring  Georgia 

And  Missus  walking  round; 
He  whistled  and  he  shuffled — 

Some  joy  was  breaking  ground, 
Or  why  did  he  mention  Georgia? 

And  Missus  walking  round. 


118 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


JUBA 

Juba  am  the  music — 

I  always  like  to  hear, 
'Tis  music  to  my  feelings, 

And  music  to  my  ear. 
I  may  be  feeling  lonesome 

Without  a  reason  for 
But  when  I  hear  that  Juba 

I  done  cry  no  moah. 

I  haven't  any  banjo — 

I  haven't  any  bow, 
But  I  doan'  need  a  fiddle 

To  make  my  Juba  go. 
I  may  be  feeling  lonesome 

Without  a  reason  for 
But  when  I  hear  that  Juba 

I  done  cry  no  moah. 


GWINE  TO  THE  BALL 

Gwine  to  the  ball,  Liz, 

Gwine  to  the  ball? 
You  will  be  a  belle,  Liz, 

You  are  fair  and  tall; 
You  will  be  a  belle,  Liz, 

With  your  eyes  of  brown, 
And  you  will  be  a  belle,  Liz, 

In  your  buckram  gown. 

119 


Negro  Poems f  Melodies 


Gwine  to  the  ball,  Liz, 

In  your  buckram  gown? 
You  will  be  a  belle,  Liz, 

With  your  eyes  of  brown, 
You  will  be  a  belle,  Liz, 

You  are  fair  and  tall, 
Gwine  to  the  ball,  Liz, 

Gwine  to  the  ball. 


GWINE  TO  SEE  MY  GAL 

Rastus  had  a  rival 

For  Miss  Matilda's  hand, 
He  played  the  second  fiddle 

In  the  Ethiopian  band; 
And  Henry  started  singing 

As  he  gave  his  bow  a  whirl — 
Tomorrow  am  a  coming 

And  I'm  gwine  to  see  my  girl. 

And  Rastus  heard  him  singing 

And  Rastus  saw  his  smile, 
And  that  roused  Rastus'  anger 

And  that  roused  Rastus'  bile ; 
And  Rastus  started  singing 

As  he  soaked  him  on  the  head — 
Tomorrow  am  a  coming 

And  you  am  gwine  to  be  dead. 


1 20 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


NIGGERING  AROUND 

"Good  morning,  Marse  Henry 

How  am  the  little  chile?" 
Said  Rastus  Johnson  softly 

And  with  a  nigger  smile; 
Now  Rastus  wanted  something 

He  wanted  Henrys  hound, 
And  that's  the  way  a  nigger 

Comes  niggering  around. 

With  money  in  his  pockets 

And  clothes  upon  his  back, 
You  can  always  tell  a  nigger 

By  the  way  a  nigger  acts; 
They  guffaw  like  a  donkey 

And  when  you  hear  that  sound, 
You  always  know  the  nigger 

Has  been  niggering  around. 

THE  HORNET  AND  THE  BEE 

Hear  that  hornet  buzzing, 

See  that  hornet  fly, 
He  don't  make  no  honey, 

He  don't  want  to  try; 
He  am  just  a  torment 

And  it  am  plain  to  me, 
The  hornet  am  the  dog  whip 

And  the  black  man  am  the  bee. 
121 


Neffro  Poems,  Melodies 


Dat  old  hornet's  buzzing 

Always  in  my  ear, 
I  hear  him  when  I'm  distant 

I  hear  him  when  I'm  near; 
All  the  time  he's  buzzing 

And  it  am  plain  to  me, 
The  hornet  am  the  dog  whip 

And  the  black  man  am  the  bee. 


He  come  round  a  buzzing 

And  he  sing  a  tune, 
But  that  tune  ain't  roses 

Nor  the  silvery  moon ; 
Keep  away  old  hornet 

Don't  you  dare  sting  me, 
For  the  hornet  am  the  dog  whip 

And  the  black  man  am  the  bee. 


122 


Plantation  Pieces,   Camp  Meeting  Songs 


THE  TWO  MASTERS 

I  had  two  good  masters — 
Said  Rastus  Johnson  Snow, — 

I  had  two  good  masters 

As  you  would  want  to  know. 

They  never  shouted  flog  him, 

See  he  idle  stands, 
But  they  always  cheered  me — 

These  two  good  old  hands. 

I  always  did  my  duty 

When  working  with  the  hoe, 
And  round  about  my  labor 

They  always  with  me  go. 

I  drove  the  mules  all  morning 
And  ploughed  the  cotton  lands, 

And  happy  was  the  master 
Of  these  two  old  hands. 

Massa  Right  was  gentle, 

Massa  Left  was  kind, 
And  what  the  other  did  do 

The  other  didn't  mind. 

The  Lord  was  good  to  Moses, 
He  obeyed  the  Lord's  command, 

And  I  bless  the  Lord  Almighty 
For  dem  two  old  hands. 
123 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


HAUL  THAT  WOODPILE  DOWN 

Blow  dem  whistles,  steamboat, 

Blow  dem  long  and  loud, 
For  I  want  to  see  the  smoke  steam 

And  I  want  to  see  the  cloud ; 
And  when  you  blow  dem  whistles 

Blow  dem  so  they  sound, 
For  I  want  to  hear  dem  whistles 

Haul  that  woodpile  down. 


Haul  that  woodpile  down, 
Haul  that  woodpile  down, 

The  darkies  they  are  singing 
As  they  go  round  and  round ; 

Singing  to  dem  whistles, 
Haul  that  woodpile  down. 


Blow  dem  whistles,  steamboat, 

Blow  dem  loud  and  long, 
Blow  dem  like  a  siren 

And  blow  dem  like  a  song, 
And  when  you  blow  dem  whistles 

Blow  dem  so  they  sound ; 
For  I  want  to  hear  dem  whistles 

Haul  that  woodpile  down. 
124 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 

Blow  dem  whistles,  steamboat, 

Blow  dem  loud  and  clear, 
Blow  dem  for  the  distant 

And  blow  dem  for  the  near; 
And  when  you  bldw  dem  whistles 

Blow  dem  so  they  sound, 
For  I  want  to  hear  dem  whistles 

Haul  that  woodpile  down. 

Blow  dem  whistles,  steamboat, 

Blow  dem  like  a  horn, 
Blow  dem  for  the  cotton 

And  blow  dem  for  the  corn; 
And  when  you  blow  dem  whistles 

Blow  dem  so  they  sound, 
For  I  want  to  hear  dem  whistles 

Haul  that  woodpile  down. 


NO  MOON  TONIGHT 

Rastus  likes  to  sing  a  song 
That  doesn't  take  him  very  long, 
The  buck  and  wing  and  pigeon  wing 
You  often  hear  him  chirp  and  sing; 
And  Mandy  Lee  and  Dinah  dear 
Will  linger  on  your  listening  ear, 
But  his  favorite  sweet  and  trite 
Is  that  song,  No  Moon  Tonight. 


125 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


GOOD  BYE  LIZA  JANE 

When  I  go  back  to  Dixie 

I  hope  the  sun  will  shine, 
When  I  go  back  to  Dixie 

I  hope  the  day  is  fine; 
When  I  go  back  to  Dixie 

You  won't  see  me  again, 
When  I  go  back  to  Dixie 

Good  bye  Liza  Jane 
Good  bye  Liza  Jane 

Good  bye  Liza  Jane 
When  I  go  back  to  Dixie 

Good  bye  to  Liza  Jane. 

When  I  go  back  to  Dixie 

I  want  to  see  the  corn, 
When  I  go  back  to  Dixie 

I  want  to  hear  the  horn ; 
When  I  go  back  to  Dixie 

You  won't  see  me  again, 
When  I  go  back  to  Dixie 

Good  bye  Liza  Jane; 
Good  bye  Liza  Jane 

Good  bye  Liza  Jane, 
When  I  go  back  to  Dixie 

Good  bye  Liza  Jane. 


126 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


DID  YOU  SEE  ME 

I  went  riding  in  a  great  big  car — 

Did  you,  did  you,  did  you  see  me? 
I  was  smoking  a  very  fine  cigar — 

Did  you,  did  you,  did  you  see  me? 

All  of  the  girls  were  waving  their  hans' 

And  hidin'  their  smiles  behin'  their  fans 

And  I  was  pityin'  dem  po'  white  mans. 

Did  you,  did  you,  did  you  see  me. 

I  went  walking  with  Eliza  Jane — 

Did  you,  did  you,  did  you  see  me? 
Wore  a  gold  ring  and  a  big  gold  chain, 

Did  you,  did  you,  did  you  see  me? 
All  of  dem  coons  they  had  to  stare — 
When  they  saw  me  with  Eliza  there 
And  for  their  frowns  what  did  I  care, 
Did  you,  did  you,  did  you  see  me. 

I  got  acquainted  with  Doctor  Jones — 
Did  you,  did  you,  did  you  see  me? 
Good  morning,  Mr.  Sam,  in  his  blandest  tones, 

Did  you,  did  you,  did  you  see  me? 
All  the  people  looked,  when  he  took  my  han' 
And  wondered  to  themselves  who  am  that  man 
But  I  jes'  enjoyed  the  situation  an' — j 
Did  you,  did  you,  did  you  see  me. 


127 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


THE  CHARIOT  MAN 

I  saw  a  chariot  waiting — 

A  chariot  big  and  bright, 
The  horses  all  had  wings  on 

And  the  harness  all  was  white ; 
I  got  aboard  that  chariot 

And  happy  was  my  pride, 
When  I  was  in  that  chariot 

And  Jesus  by  my  side. 


The  driver  man  was  Jesus — 

The  driver  man  was  God, 
And  soon  we  got  to  heaven 

Along  the  heavenly  road; 
I  got  down  from  the  chariot 

And  happy  was  my  pride, 
To  think  I  had  been  riding 

With  Jesus  by  my  side. 


128 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


WHEN  I  GET  THERE  THAT  DAY 

I'm  gwine  to  heaven,  on  the  judgment  day — 
I'm  gwine  to  heaven,  in  the  good  old  way, 
And  come  all  the  rivers,  and  come  all  the  floods, 
Come  all  the  fires,  and  come  all  the  bloods; 
They  can't  stop  the  shouting  in  my  soul 
When  I  get  there  that  day. 


It  won't  be  long  and  it  won't  be  far 

Before  I  reach  those  gates  ajar, 

And  come  all  the  rivers,  and  come  all  the  floods, 

Come  all  the  fires,  and  come  all  the  bloods; 

They  can't  stop  the  shouting  in  my  soul — 

When  I  get  there  that  day. 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


KEEP  THAT  CHARIOT  ROLLING 

The  judgment  day  am  coming, 

I  feel  it  near  at  hand, 
When  before  the  Lord  Almighty 

We  all  have  got  to  stand  ; 
So  Elijah  tell  the  angels 

And  tell  them  too  this  day, 
To  keep  that  chariot  rolling 

And  rolling  down  this  way. 

Then  will  the  thunders  rattle 

And  lightnings  light  the  sky, 
Then  will  the  sinners  tremble 

Before  that  mighty  eye; 
So  Elijah  tell  the  angels 

And  tell  them  too  this  day, 
To  keep  that  chariot  rolling 

And  rolling  down  this  way. 


130 


Plantation  Pieces,   Camp  Meeting  Songs 


OLD  JOHN  BROWN 

Old  John  Brown 

He  set  me  free, 
Old  John  Brown 

Done  this  for  me. 
Glory  Hallelujah! 

To  the  snow  white  lamb! 
Glory   Hallelujah! 

What  a  wretch  I  am. 


Old  John  Brown 

He  started  the  war, 
Old  John  Brown 

What  a  sword  he  wore. 
Glory  Hallelujah 

To  the  blood  of  the  lamb! 
Glory  Hallelujah! 

What  a  wretch  I  am. 


Old  John  Brown 

Came  marching  along, 
He  saw  me  weeping 

And  he  heard  my  song, 
He  washed  my  sins 

In  the  blood  of  the  lamb ! 
Glory  Hallelujah! 

What  a  saint  I  am. 

131 


Netfro  Poems,  Melodies 


DOWN  ON  THE  OLD  PLANTATION 

'Tis  the  early  dawn  and  the  early  morn, 
You  hear  the  mule  and  you  hear  the  horn, 
You  hear  the  wind  and  the  rustle  of  the  corn 
Down  on  the  old  plantation. 


The  cabin  smoke  is  rising  high, 
The  pigs  are  grunting  in  the  sty, 
The  early  birds  begin  to  fly 
Down  on  the  old  plantation. 

The  river  flows  a  silvery  trail, 
The  flowers  scent  the  dewy  gale, 
There  goes  the  milkmaid  with  her  pail 
Down  on  the  old  plantation. 

The  cotton  is  white  and  the  corn  is  green 
And  over  the  hoe  the  darkies  lean, 
The  song  is  sung  and  the  smile  is  seen 
Down  on  the  old  plantation. 

The  night  is  bright  and  the  river  gleams 
Beneath  the  moonlight's  silvery  beams, 
And  amid  such  scenes  the  darky  dreams 
Down  on  the  old  plantation. 


132 


Plantation  Pieces,   Camp  Meeting  Songs 


THE  MULE 

I  sing  in  simple  language — 

The  virtues  of  a  beast, 
On  whom  the  praises  languish 

And  on  whom  the  idyls  cease ; 
A  paragon  of  patience 

The  best  you  ever  saw, 
He  may  not  be  a  beauty — 

But  he's  honest  to  the  core. 


Just  hitch  him  to  a  mountain — 

And  tap  him  with  the  whip, 
And  you'll  see  that  mountain  rolling 

And  you'll  see  that  mountain  slip ; 
And  all  he  wants  is  fodder 

And  a  bedding  in  the  straw, 
And  he  may  not  be  a  beauty — 

But  he's  honest  to  the  core. 


Up  the  hill,  and  down  the  hill 

He'll  amble  with  his  load, 
But  you  must  urge  him  gently 

And  don't  use  too  much  the  goad; 
And  if  he  stoops  to  folly — 

What  is  his  balking  for  ? 
But  a  protest  to  his  master 

That  he's  honest  to  the  core. 

133 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


Handsome  is,  as  handsome  does — 

May  do  for  kings  and  queens, 
Or  when  you're  driving  tandem 

Where  fashion  struts  and  preens ; 
But  when  you're  ploughing  stubble 

Or  hauling  guns  in  war, 
There's  nothing  like  his  muleship 

So  honest  to  the  core. 

As  homely  as  the  thistle 

On  which  he  loves  to  feed, 
How  humble  is  his  portion 

And  how  glorious  is  his  deed ; 
And  everywhere  he  travels 

It  is  the  common  law, 
He  may  not  be  a  beauty 

But  he's  honest  to  the  core. 


LIVING  HIGH 

Ahm  living  high,  ahm  living  high, 

Ah  can  almost  touch  the  sky, 

Where  was  you  Rastus,  when  you  was  living  high? 

Up  in  a  tree  with  a  hound  close  by; 

Ahm  living  high,  ahm  living  high — 

Go  way  chile,  I  want  to  fly, 

Where  was  you  Rastus,  when  you  was  living  high  ? 

Up  in  a  tree  with  a  hound  close  by. 


134 


Plantation  Pieces,   Camp  Meeting  Songs 


REFRAINS 

Those  Moses  men,  those  Moses  men, 
Those  Moses  men  of  God, 

Oh !  glory  to  those  Moses  men, 
Those  Moses  men  of  God. 

Roll  that  stone,  roll  that  stone, 

Roll  that  stone  away, 
Roll  that  stone,  roll  that  stone, 

Oh!  roll  that  stone  away. 

The  glory  man,  the  glory  man, 

Dwelling  in  the  sky, 
Oh !  I  want  to  see  that  glory  man 

Dwelling  in  the  sky. 


DEM  GOLDEN  BELLS 

Oh  dem  bells,  dem  golden  bells 

Ringing,  ringing,  flinging,  flinging, 

All  my  soul  is  singing,  singing 
When  I  hear  dem  golden  bells. 

Oh  dem  bells,  dem  golden  bells 

Sounding,  sounding,  pounding,  pounding 
Zion !  Zion !  they  are  crying 

When  I  hear  dem  golden  bells. 

135 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


SINIA 

Take  me  Lord,  and  take  me  quick, 
My  heart  is  sad,  my  soul  is  sick, 
I  want  to  get  off,  Sinia,  Sinia — 
I  want  to  get  off  at  Sinia. 

Hurry  Lord,  for  here  I  come, 
Sound  the  trumpet,  boom  the  drum, 
I  want  to  get  off,  Sinia,  Sinia — 
I  want  to  get  off  at  Sinia. 


THE  HALLELUJAH  TRAIN 

The  hallelujah  train  is  almost  ready, 
We're  bound  for  Canaan  and  the  Lord, 

And  when  you  hear  those  bells  a  ringing — 
Get  aboard,  get  aboard. 

We're  going  through  a  land  of  honey, 
Where  angel  voices  praise  the  Lord, 

And  when  you  hear  those  angels  singing — 
Get  aboard,  get  aboard. 

There  is  no  stopping  by  the  wayside 
There's  only  one  wide  river  to  ford, 

And  when  you  hear  those  voices  calling 
Get  aboard,  get  aboard. 

136 


Plantation  Pieces,   Camp  Meeting  Songs 


WHERE  IS  MY  DINAH? 

Where  is  my  Dinah? 

Why  does  she  hide? 
Why  is  she  absent 

From  her  honey's  side? 

Where  is  my  Dinah? 

When  was  she  aroun*  ? 
There  is  my  Dinah 

In  her  bran'  new  gown. 

Where  is  my  Dinah? 

Where  can  I  find, 
The  one  that  makes  me  happy 

The  one  that  is  so  kind  ? 

Where  is  my  Dinah? 

I  just  heard  a  soun', 
There  is  my  Dinah 

In  her  bran'  new  gown. 

Where  is  my  Dinah? 

Where  can  she  be? 
Why  does  she  wander 

All  alone  from  me? 

Where  is  my  Dinah? 

At  last,  at  last,  I've  foun', 
There  is  my  Dinah 

In  her  bran'  new  gown. 

137 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


POSSUM  JUICE 

White  folks,  white  folks 

Wear  a  long  face, 
They  am  never  happy 

Like  the  black  race; 
I  could  tell  mah  troubles 

But  what  am  the  use? 
Thinking  of  that  possum 

And  that  possum  juice. 

Ah  ain't  got  no  money, 

Ah  can't  pay  mah  rent, 
My  feet  am  heavy, 

My  back  am  bent; 
Ah  could  tell  mah  troubles 

But  what  am  the  use? 
Thinking  of  that  possum 

And  that  possum  juice, 

Satan  say  Fse  wicked, 

Satan  say  I  die, 
Satan  doan'  know  me, 

Satan  done  lie; 
I  is  very  happy 

But  what  am  the  use? 
Thinking  of  that  possum 

And  that  possum  juice. 

138 


Plantation  Pieces,   Camp  Meeting  Songs 


COME  ALONG  CHILLUN 

A  very  nice  angel 

In  very  nice  clothes, 
Asked  me  a  question 

And  what  do  you  suppose? 
Come  along,  chillun 

The  ark  is  on  the  way, 
Get  aboard,  chillun, 

Get  aboard  today. 

A  very  nice  angel 

In  very  nice  clothes, 
Asked  me  a  question 

And  what  do  you  suppose  ? 
The  judgment  am  a  coming 

Coming  on  the  way, 
Come  along,  chillun, 

Come  along  today. 

THE  PROMIS'  LAN' 

A  poor  old  nigger  worn  and  gray, 
Looking  for  a  place  to  rest  and  pray, 
Moses  come  and  take  him  by  the  hand, 
Moses  am  that  promised  land. 

Milk  and  honey  now  he  eat 
And  rest  he  found  for  his  poor  feet, 
For  Moses  take  him  by  the  hand 
And  Moses  am  that  promised  land. 

139 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


WHAT  ARE  YOU  DOING  UP  THERE? 

What  are  you  doing  up  there? 

What  are  you  doing  up  there? 

Come  right  down,  with  that  heavenly  crown, 

What  are  you  doing  up  there? 

What  are  you  doing  up  there? 
What  are  you  doing  up  there? 
I'm  on  my  way,  to  that  glorious  day 
That's  what  I'm  doing  up  there. 

What  are  you  doing  up  there? 

What  are  you  doing  up  there? 

Come  right  down,  with  that  heavenly  crown, 

What  are  you  doing  up  there? 

What  are  you  doing  up  there? 

What  are  you  doing  up  there? 

I'm  filled  with  the  fire,  of  the  heavenly  choir, 

That's  what  I'm  doing  up  there. 

What  are  you  doing  up  there? 

What  are  you  doing  up  there? 

Come  right  down,  with  that  heavenly  crown, 

What  are  you  doing  up  there? 

What  are  you  doing  up  there? 
What  are  you  doing  up  there? 
Im  living  with  God,  in  the  smile  of  the  Lord, 
That's  what  I'm  doing  up  there. 
140 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


ELIJAH  RING  THAT  BELL 

I  heard  the  good  Lord  calling, 

I  heard  the  good  Lord  say, 
Elijah  stands  a  waiting 

To  show  me  on  my  way; 
I  do  not  fear  the  journey 

All  through  the  night  and  day 
When  I  know  Elijah's  waiting 

To  show  me  on  my  way. 

Elijah!  Elijah!  Elijah!  ring  that  bell, 

Elijah!  Elijah!  Elijah!  ring  that  bell, 

I'm  going  over  the  river,  but  when  I  cannot  tell; 

Oh!  oh!  Elijah!  Elijah!  ring  that  bell. 

My  soul  is  ready  waiting 

To  go  and  see  my  Lord, 
I  do  not  fear  his  anger, 

I  do  not  fear  his  sword  ; 
He  called  me  on  my  journey 

And  he  told  me  not  to  stay, 
And  he  said  the  angel  Elijah 

Would  show  me  on  my  way. 

Elijah!  Elijah!  Elijah!  ring  that  bell, 
Elijah!  Elijah!  Elijah!  ring  that  bell, 
I'm  going  over  the  river,  but  when  I  cannot  tell, 
Oh!  oh!  Elijah!  Elijah!  ring  that  bell. 
141 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


PHAROAH 

Pharoah  was  a  monarch, 

Pharoah  was  a  king, 
He  wore  a  silken  girdle 

And  he  wore  a  golden  ring; 
He  had  a  lovely  daughter 

As  lovely  as  could  be, 
He  couldn't  catch  Moses 

And  he  can't  catch  me. 

Pharoah  was  a  monarch, 

Pharoah  was  a  king, 
He  wore  a  silken  girdle 

And  he  wore  a  golden  ring; 
He  couldn't  stop  the  waters, 

He  couldn't  cross  the  sea, 
He  couldn't  catch  Moses 

And  he  can't  catch  me. 

ALL  RIGHT  MOSES  I'LL  BE  THERE 

Moses  done  tell  me,  there  am  gwine  to  be 
A  great  big  treat  in  store  for  me, 
Let  the  day  be  foul  or  fair, 
All  right  Moses  I'll  be  there. 

Moses  done  tell  me,  I  am  gwine  to  see 
Something  the  Lord  has  in  store  for  me, 
Let  the  day  be  foul  or  fair, 
All  right  Moses  I'll  be  there. 
142 


Plantation  Pieces,   Camp  Meeting  Songs 


FORTY  ACRES  AND  A  MULE 

Forty  acres  and  a  mule — 

A  little  warm  a  little  cool, 

A  little  cabin  and  a  floor, 

A  little  flower  round  the  door; 

A  little  well,  a  little  tree, 

A  little  sky  for  all  to  see, 

A  little  porker  in  a  pen, 

A  little  rooster  and  a  hen; 

Some  sweet  potatoes  and  a  yam, 

A  big  fat  possum  and  a  ham, 

And  why  should  Sambo  want  to  roam 

From  that  fohty  and  that  home? 

Forty  acres  and  a  mule, 
A  little  cabin  and  a  school, 
Pickaninnies  on  the  floor 
And  a  Mammy  watching  o'er  ; 
A  patch  of  clover  and  of  wheat, 
A  honey  hive  of  honey  sweet, 
A  field  of  cotton  and  of  corn, 
A  blackbird  singing  in  the  morn ; 
A  little  cloud,  a  little  rain, 
A  little  road,  a  little  lane, 
And  wouldn't  Sambo  be  a  fool 
To  leave  that  fohty  and  that  mule? 


143 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


CAROLINE 

Virginny  am  some  pumpkins 
An'  Marylan'  divine, 

But  dey  can't  hold  a  candle — 
Down  in  Caroline. 


George  Washington,  President, 
He  made  the  people  shine, 

But  gib  me  Marse  Pinckney — 
Down  in  Caroline. 


The  breezes  seem  more  softer — 
The  air  seems  more  like  wine, 

The  friends  and  counsels  dearer 
Down  in  Caroline. 

And  when  my  days  are  over 
Beneath  some  spreading  pine, 

I  want  to  meet  the  judgment — 
Down  in  Caroline. 


So  sang  darky  David — 
Trimming  bush  and  vine, 

And  singing  with  the  skylark 
Down  in  Caroline. 


144 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


THE  JUDGMENT  MORN 

The  judgment  day  is  coming, 

Hark!  the  trumpet's  sound, 
Wake  up  sleepers,  wake  up 

When  Gabriel  comes  around; 
Take  away  that  banjo 

On  that  judgment  morn, 
For  I'd  like  to  be  old  Gabriel 

Blowing  on  that  horn. 

Hark!  the  trumpet's  blowing, 

Hark!  the  trumpets'  sound, 
Get  up  sleepers,  get  up 

When  Gabriel  comes  around; 
Take  away  that  banjo 

On  that  judgment  morn, 
For  I'd  like  to  be  old  Gabriel 

Blowing  on  that  horn. 


THE  DARKIES'  JUBILEE 

It  am  coming,  it  am  coming, 

It  am  coming  very  soon, 
I  can  hear  it  in  the  thunder, 

I  can  see  it  in  the  moon ; 
All  the  darkies  will  be  waiting, 

All  the  darkies  will  be  free, 
For  the  coming  of  the  Saviour 

And  the  darkies'  jubilee. 

H5 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


It  am  coming,  it  am  coming, 

It  am  coming  on  the  way, 
I  can  hear  it  in  the  night  time, 

I  can  hear  it  in  the  day; 
Moses  will  be  past  grand  master 

And  our  friends  we  all  will  see, 
When  the  Saviour  gives  the  greeting 

At  the  darkies'  jubilee. 


ROLL  ON,  JORDAN,  ROLL 

Roll  on,  Jordan,  roll  on, 

Roll  on,  deep  and  wide, 
Roll  on  in  your  power — 

Roll  on  in  your  pride; 
Roll  on,  Jordan,  roll  on, 

There  is  glory  in  my  soul, 
Roll  on,  Jordon,  roll  on — 

Roll  on,  Jordan,  roll. 

Roll  on,  Jordan,  roll  on, 

Roll  on,  night  and  day, 
Roll  on  in  your  glory — 

Roll  on  in  your  way; 
Roll  on,  Jordan,  roll  on, 

There  is  glory  in  my  soul, 
Roll  on,  Jordan,  roll  on, 

Roll  on,  Jordan,  roll. 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


DIXIE  DARKY  LAND 

Down  in  Dixie  darkv^  land 
There  the  folks  am  fine  and  grand, 
Heart  to  heart  and  hand  to  hand 
Down  in  Dixie  darky  land. 

Hear  them  banjos  dum,  dum,  dum, 
Hear  them  fiddles  turn,  turn,  turn, 
Hear  those  darkies  hum,  hum,  hum 
Down  in  Dixie  darky  land. 

See  the  chillun  at  their  play, 
See  the  river  on  its  way, 
See  the  sunflowers  bright  and  gay 
Down  in  Dixie  darky  land. 

See  that  cotton,  see  that  corn, 
See  that  blackbird  on  the  thorn, 
Happy  the  day  that  I  was  born 
Down  in  Dixie  darky  land. 

Lovely  is  the  lovely  night, 
There  the  stars  are  pure  and  white, 
And  the  moon  is  always  bright 
Down  in  Dixie  darky  land. 


Neffro  Poems,  Melodies 


WHEN  THE  SUN  GOES  DOWN 

My  heart  is  happy, 

My  heart  is  glad, 
Dinah  makes  me  happy, 

Dinah  makes  me  glad; 
Her  hair  is  curly, 

Her  eyes  are  brown, 
And  I'm  going  to  meet  her 

When  the  sun  goes  down. 


Many  are  the  maidens, 

Many  are  their  charms, 
But  of  all  the  maidens 

Dinah  only  charms  ; 
Her  teeth  are  pearly, 

Her  cheeks  are  brown, 
And  I'm  going  to  meet  her 

When  the  sun  goes  down. 

Moonlight  on  the  water, 

Moonlight  on  the  stream, 
That  is  Dinah  laughing 

Like  a  rippling  beam; 
Soon  the  night  is  coming, 

Soon  the  stars  will  crown, 
And  I'm  going  to  meet  her 

When  the  sun  goes  down. 

148 


Plantation  Pieces,   Camp  Meeting  Songs 


DINAH  COME  WITH  ME 

Dinah  I  am  calling, 

Dinah  do  you  hear? 
For  the  shades  are  falling 

And  the  night  is  near; 
Come  with  me,  Dinah, 

Dinah,  come  with  me, 
By  the  light  of  the  moon,  Dinah, 

Dinah,  come  with  me. 

Dinah  I  am  calling, 

Dinah  do  you  hear? 
Though  the  night  is  falling 

Dinah  do  not  fear  ; 
Come  with  me,  Dinah, 

Dinah,  come  with  me, 
By  the  light  of  the  moon,  Dinah, 

Dinah,  come  with  me. 

MY  LITTLE  BLACK  EYED  CHLOE 

The  moon  is  on  the  river 

And  the  moon  is  on  the  stream 
And  there  is  one  I'm  thinking  of 

And  of  whom  I  often  dream; 
Her  eyes  are  like  the  blossoms 

Of  the  hyacinths  when  they  blow, 
And  I  call  her,  yes  I  call  her 

My  little  black  eyed  Chloe. 
149 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


The  stars  begin  to  twinkle 

And  the  stars  begin  to  gleam, 
And  still  of  Chloe  I'm  thinking 

And  still  of  Chloe  I  dream; 
And  no  flower  in  the  garden 

Does  ever  sweeter  grow, 
More  sweeter  than  the  sweetness 

Of  my  little  black  eyed  Chloe. 


WHERE  THE  WOODBINE  GROWS 

Down  in  Alabama 

Among  the  dusky  Chloes, 
Down  in  Alabama 

Where  the  woodbine  grows; 
There  lives  a  pretty  maiden 

As  sweet  as  any  rose, 
Down  in  Alabama 

Where  the  woodbine  grows. 

Her  face  is  like  the  olive, 

Her  eyes  are  like  the  snows, 
Down  in  Alabama 

Where  the  woodbine  grows; 
And  I'm  going  to  wed  her 

And  wed  her  with  the  rose, 
Down  in  Alabama 

Where  the  woodbine  grows. 


150 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


MANDY'S  SOLILOQUY 

The  Lord  almighty  mighty 

Have  mercy  on  my  soul, 
Just  hear  them  niggers  praying, 

Just  see  them  eyeballs  roll; 
And  when  I  see  them  niggers 

And  hear  them  niggers  pray, 
I  surely  think  the  Lord  am  gwine 

To  strike  them  dead  some  day. 

There's  nigger  Rastus  Johnson, 

He  am  a  funny  coon, 
He  loves  to  go  a  roving 

When  the  cloud  am  on  the  moon ; 
And  they  do  say  Rastus  Johnson 

When  he  begins  to  pray, 
Must  surely  tempt  the  good  great  Lord 

To  strike  him  dead  some  day. 

And  as  for  that  Jim  Henry 

I  see  upon  his  knees, 
The  Lord  have  mercy  on  my  soul 

To  see  such  coons  as  these ; 
For  when  I  see  them  niggers 

And  hear  them  niggers  pray, 
I  surely  think  the  Lord  am  gwine 

To  strike  them  dead  some  day. 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


THE  OLD  BANJO 

Take  me  back  to  Dixie — 

To  Dixie  let  me  go, 
And  let  me  hear  the  music 

Of  the  old  banjo. 

I've  been  away  from  Dixie 
But  sweet  the  echoes  grow, 

Of  Dixie  in  the  evening 
And  the  old  banjo. 

So  take  me  back  to  Dixie — 
The  Dixie  that  I  know, 

For  I  want  to  hear  the  music 
Of  the  old  banjo. 

I  long  to  be  in  Dixie — 

In  Dixie  with  the  hoe, 
And  hear  the  darkies  playing 

The  old  banjo. 

And  although  my  hair  is  whitened 

And  heavy  is  my  toe, 
I  still  can  dance  a  shuffle 

To  the  old  banjo. 

And  when  I  get  to  heaven 
How  great  will  be  my  woe, 

If  I  cannot  hear  the  playing 
Of  the  old  banjo. 
152 


Plantation  Pieces  f  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


SONGS  OF  DIXIE 

There  are  songs  of  Dixie 

That  everybody  knows, 
I  wish  I  was  in  Dixie 

And  where  the  Swanee  flows; 
But  the  song  I  like  in  Dixie 

Is  not  the  river's  foam, 
But  a  cabin  in  the  clearing 

And  home  sweet  home. 

I  want  not  Massa's  mansion, 

His  oxen  or  his  sheep, 
But  oh  I  want  a  cabin 

Where  I  can  rest  and  sleep; 
For  the  song  I  love  in  Dixie 

Is  not  the  river's  foam, 
But  a  cabin  in  the  clearing 

And  home  sweet  home. 


A  PLAINTIVE  MELODY 

Massa  got  chickens,  Massa  got  shoats, 
Massa  got  cornfields,  Massa  got  oats ; 
Massa  got  a  nigger,  nigger  got  a  hoe, 
Working,  working,  everywhere  you  go. 

Massa  got  chillun,  Massa  got  clothes, 
Massa  got  fire,  Massa  got  those  ; 
Massa  got  a  nigger,  nigger  got  a  hoe, 
Working,  working,  everywhere  you  go. 

153 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


Massa  got  oxen,  Massa  got  a  plough, 
Massa  got  cotton,  cotton  grow  now, 
Massa  got  a  nigger,  nigger  got  a  hoe, 
Working,  working,  everywhere  you  go. 

Massa  got  a  Sunday,  Massa  got  a  God, 
Massa  got  a  heaven,  Massa  got  a  rod; 
Massa  got  a  nigger,  nigger  got  a  hoe, 
Working,  working,  everywhere  you  go. 


THE  SUNFLOWER 

There's  a  flower  in  the  garden — 

A  flower  that  I  know, 
It  has  a  golden  glory 

And  it  has  a  golden  glow ; 
Shiny  are  its  features 

And  golden  is  its  hair, 
And  it  is  the  happy  sunflower 

That  I  see  there. 

There's  a  flower  in  the  garden — 

A  flower  big  and  bright, 
The  glory  of  the  morning 

And  the  splendor  of  the  night ; 
Radiant  are  its  features 

And  its  face  is  fair, 
And  it  is  the  happy  sunflower 

That  I  see  there. 


154 


Plantation  Pieces,   Camp  Meeting  Songs 


HOE  CAKE  SONG 

The  dinner  time  was  passing 

And  waiting  was  the  ham, 
The  possums  had  been  eaten 

And  ready  was  the  jam; 
The  coons  began  to  grumble, 

There  must  be  some  delay, 
For  what  made  them  darkies  grumble, 

And  wrhat  made  them  darkies  say : 
Ah  doan'  want  no  dumplings, 

No  raisin  cake  or  pound, 
But  when  you  jes'  get  ready 

Pass  that  hoe  cake  round. 


They  cared  not  for  the  coffee 
They  cared  not  for  the  coffee, 
They  only  wanted  hoe  cake 

With  every  course  between; 
And  feasting  on  the  luscious 

Or  breaking  bread  with  Kings, 
Was  nothing  to  the  hoe  cake 

Of  which  their  longing  sings: 
Ah  doan'  want  no  dumpligs, 

No  raisin  cake  or  pound, 
But  when  you  jes'  get  ready 

Pass  that  hoe  cake  round. 


155 


Neyro  Poems,  Melodies 


THE  WEDDIN'  GOWN 

Mandy  Johnson  wears  a  smile — 
What  makes  Mandy  pleased  the  while? 
There  are  rumors  in  the  town — 
Mandy  has  a  weddin'  gown. 

The  stripes  are  big,  and  the  stripes  are  red 
And  there  is  a  hood  to  fit  the  head : 
And  they  say  no  queen  or  crown 
Ever  was  like  Mandy's  gown. 

There  were  laces  there  were  beads — 
There  were  velvets  there  were  seeds: 
And  from  the  girdle  hanging  down 
Was  a  blue  ribbon  on  the  gown. 

Mandy  learned  to  stitch  and  sew — 
To  make  that  gown  to  please  her  beau : 
And  he  declared  did  Mistah  Brown 
There  never  was  such  a  weddin'  gown. 

Before  the  parson  Mandy  stands 
Holding  her  honey's  horny  hands, 
And  their  blushes  soft  and  brown 
Were  spread  all  over  that  weddin'  gown. 

There  was  a  party  and  a  dance — 
And  soft  the  whispering  and  the  glance. 
And  the  song  that  most  went  round 
Was  glory,  glory,  to  that  gown. 

156 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


THE  CATFISH  FRY 

The  niggers  down  in  Dixie 

They  have  a  lot  of  fun, 
With  fishing  in  the  rivers 

And  sleeping  in  the  sun; 
And  if  you  want  a  nigger     . 

To  roll  his  nigger  eye, 
Just  you  tell  that  nigger 

Of  a  nigger  catfish  fry. 


That  chicken  and  that  pone  cake 

And  that  melon  on  the  vine, 
Can  never  hold  a  candle 

To  a  catfish  on  a  line; 
And  when  the  fire's  waiting 

And  the  fat  is  spouting  high, 
There's  bound  to  be  a  nigger 

And  a  nigger  catfish  fry. 


The  Lord  he  made  the  honey 

And  the  Lord  he  made  the  bee, 
And  the  Lord  he  made  the  catfish 

And  he  made  the  catfish  free  ; 
And  there's  nothing  down  in  Dixie 

That  will  better  please  your  eye, 
Than  to  see  a  nigger  fooling 

With  a  nigger  catfish  fry. 

157 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


A  hundred  or  a  dozen — 

It  is  all  the  same  to  Mose, 
There  is  languor  in  his  manner, 

There  is  langour  in  his  clothes ; 
But  just  you  watch  that  nigger 

And  just  you  watch  his  eye, 
When  you  see  that  nigger  fooling 

With  that  nigger  catfish  fry. 


WHEN  MASSA  BLOWS  THAT  HORN 

Blow  that  horn  old  Massa 

Blow  it  for  the  dawn, 
Blow  it  for  the  cotton 

And  blow  it  for  the  corn ; 
Blow  it  for  the  cabin — 

See  the  day  is  born, 
And  the  darkies  must  be  waking 

When  Massa  blows  that  horn. 

The  hounds  begin  their  baying 

The  birds  all  come  around, 
The  mules  they  are  neighing, 

The  weather  vane  turns  round; 
Blow  it  for  the  cabin — 

See  the  day  is  born, 
And  the  darkies  must  be  waking 

When  Massa  blows  that  horn. 


158 


Plantation  Pieces,   Camp  Meeting  Songs 


THE  ROOSTING  ROOSTERS 

Rastus  has  a  banjo, 

It  only  has  a  string, 
Hear  old  Rastus  playing, 

Hear  old  Rastus  sing; 
The  night  is  dark  and  stormy 

And  the  wind  goes  rushing  by, 
As  he  chants  upon  the  chorus 

Why  dem  roosters  roost  so  high. 


Roost  away  old  rooster, 

Roost  upon  that  limb, 
When  ah  wants  to  git  you 

Ah  won't  have  to  swim; 
But  some  night  you'll  be  roosting 

With  your  wing  across  your  eye 
And  then  you'll  be  a  rooster 

With  dem  roosters  in  the  sky. 

Ah  know  you  fear  the  tempest, 

Ah  know  you  fear  the  rain, 
Ah  know  dem  foxes  prowling 

Done  give  you  lots  of  pain; 
But  some  night  you'll  be  roosting 

With  your  wing  across  your  eye, 
And  then  you'll  be  a  roosting 

With  dem  roosters  in  the  sky. 

159 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


THE  GOLDEN  CROWN 

I'm  on  the  road,  the  heavenly  road — 

That  leads  to  the  heavenly  gate, 
And  the  crossroads  wind,  and  the  crossroads  lead 

And  I  haven't  got  long  to  wait; 
My  back  is  bent  and  my  feet  are  worn — 

And  my  head  is  almost  bare, 
But  that  golden  crown,  am  a  coming  down 

When  I  get  ready  to  wear. 

When  I  get  ready,  when  I  get  ready — 

When  I  get  ready  to  wear, 
That  golden  crown,  am  a  coming  down 

When  I  get  ready  to  wear. 

The  road  is  long,  and  the  road  is  hard — 

And  dangers  oft  beset, 
But  I  dry  my  eyes  with  a  heavenly  smile 

Whenever  they  get  wet; 
And  the  crossroads  wind,  and  the  crossroads  lead 

And  the  briers  tear  and  tear, 
But  that  golden  crown,  am  a  coming  down — 

When  I  get  ready  to  wear. 

When  I  get  ready,  when  I  get  ready — 

When  I  get  ready  to  wear, 
That  golden  crown,  am  a  coming  down 

When  I  get  ready  to  wear. 
1 60 


Plantation  Pieces,   Camp  Meeting  Songs 


WHEN  THE  TIDE  TURNS  ROUND 

Steamboat  start  dem  paddles, 

Start  dem  paddles  round, 
I  want  to  go  to  Memphis 

For  I  am  homeward  bound. 
I  done  come  from  Georgia 

But  the  boat  done  get  aground 
And  I'm  gwine  back  to  Memphis 

When  the  tide  turns  round. 

Steamboat  start  dem  paddles, 

Start  dem  paddles  round, 
I  can't  wait  no  longer — 

Till  I  hear  that  sound, 
My  cabin  home  is  calling, 

I  hear  the  horn  and  hound 
And  I'm  gwine  back  to  Memphis 

When  the  tide  turns  round. 

THE  HOE  DOWN 

Tell  all  the  niggers  to  get  out  their  hoes — 
And  come  right  away  in  their  every  day  clothes. 
There's  going  to  be  a  hoe  down,  down  the  rows. 
Hoe  down,  hoe  down,  hoe. 

Hoe  down  niggers,  don't  stand  around — 
Massa  am  coming  with  a  whip  and  a  hound. 
Hoe  to  the  bottom,  and  hoe  to  the  top — 
For  the  cotton  got  to  grow,  and  the  nigger  mustn't 
stop. 

161 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


Mandy  and  Mose  are  down  the  row 
And  close  behind  comes  old  black  Joe — 
Down  to  the  fence  and  back  they  go — 
Hoe  down,  hoe  down,  hoe. 

Hoe  down  niggers,  hoe  down  quick — 
Hoe  dow7n  the  weeds  w-here  they  done  grow  thick, 
The  sun  am  hot  and  the  nigger  might  drop — 
But  the  cotton  must  grow7,  and  the  nigger  musn't 
stop. 


THE  ROUSTABOUT 

The  steamboat's  on  the  river 

Or  the  steamboat's  in  the  dock, 
It  is  early  in  the  morning 

Or  it's  nearly  four  o'clock; 
And  the  roustabout  is  singing 

As  the  steamboat  whistle  blows, 
For  he's  always  with  the  steamboat 

Where  the  steamboat  goes. 

The  steamer  tugs  the  hawser 

Or  the  steamboat  tugs  the  tide, 
Just  like  a  mettled  racer 

That  is  eager  for  a  ride; 
And  the  roustabout  is  singing 

As  the  steamboat  whistle  blows, 
For  he's  always  with  the  steamboat 

Where  the  steamboat  goes. 
162 


Plantation  Pieces,   Camp  Meeting  Songs 


WHEN  THE  WASH  AM  OUT 

Glory  Hallelujah! 

Hallelujah  evermore, 
I've  been  down  to  Jordan — 

To  Jordan's  cleansing  shore; 
And  one  thiiig  you  can  be  sure  of 

And  make  no  bones  about, 
You  needn't  come  around,  old  debbil 

When  the  wash  am  out. 

When  the  wash  am  out, 

When  the  wash  am  out, 

You  needn't  come  around,  old  debbil 

When  the  wash  am  out. 

Once  I  was  so  sinful 

And  once  I  was  so  vile, 
My  conscience  never  was  stricken 

By  any  joy  or  smile; 
But  I've  been  down  to  Jordan 

And  that  is  why  I  shout, 
You  needn't  come  around,  old  debbil 

When  the  wash  am  out. 

When  the  wash  am  out, 

When  the  wash  am  out, 

You  needn't  come  around,  old  debbil 

When  the  wash  am  out. 

163 


Negrro  Poems,  Melodies 


DIAMONDS 

Some  folks  they  like  diamonds, 

Diamonds  big  to  wear, 
Diamonds  in  their  bosoms 

And  diamonds  in  their  hair; 
But  I  could  be  so  happy 

Yum!  Yum! 
If  I  only  had  a  chicken 

In  my  finger  and  my  thumb. 

The  diamonds  some  folks  are  wearing 

Are  scandalous  to  see, 
They  have  diamonds  for  their  breakfast 

And  diamonds  for  their  tea; 
But  I  could  be  so  happy 

Yum!  Yum! 
If  I  only  had  a  chicken 

In  my  finger  and  my  thumb. 

There's  that  old  Rastus  Johnson, 

He  got  a  diamond  ring, 
As  big  as  any  war  club 

Of  any  African  king; 
But  I  would  be  so  happy 

Yum!  Yum! 
If  I  only  had  a  chicken 

In  my  finger  and  my  thumb. 


Plantation  Pieces,  Camp  Meeting  Songs 


THE  OLD  MEWL 

Pickaninnies  crawling 

Round  about  the  floor, 
Ducks  and  chickens  hopping 

In  and  out  the  door; 
And  happy  is  the  darky 

And  he  has  a  jewel, 
With  Hannah  in  the  garden 

And  that  old  mewl. 

Rabbits  in  the  bushes, 

Possums  in  the  tree, 
Honey  in  the  locust 

Come  and  get  me; 
And  happy  is  the  darky 

And  he  has  a  jewel, 
With  Hannah  in  the  garden 

And  that  old  mewl. 


MOONLIGHT 

A  moonlight  night  in  Dixie, 

A  moonlight  night  to  dream, 
Moonlight  on  the  savannahs 

And  moonlight  on  the  stream; 
And  when  thinking  of  my  childhood 

My  heart  abundant  goes, 
Back  to  sunny  Dixie 

Where  the  sweet  magnolia  grows. 

165 


Negro  Poems,  Melodies 


A  moonlight  night  in  Dixie, 

A  moonlight  night  to  dream, 
Moonlight  with  its  glimmer 

And  moonlight  with  its  gleam; 
And  when  thinking  of  my  childhood 

My  heart  in  fondness  goes, 
Back  to  sunny  Dixie 

Where  the  Swanee  river  flows. 


THE  SUN  DO  MOVE 

The  world  am  round 

And  the  world  am  flat, 
And  we'll  let  it  go — 

On  its  way  at  that  ; 
"But  praise  the  Lawd 

For   I  can  prove," 
Said  old  brother  Jasper, 

"That  the  sun  do  move.' 


Joshua  made — 

The  sun  stand  still, 
While  he  fought  the  fight 

On  the  holy  hill  ; 
"But  praise  the  Lawd 

For  I  can  prove," 
Said  old  brother  Jasper, 

"That  the  sun  do  move." 


1 66 


Plantation  Pieces,   Camp  Meeting  Songs 


THE  COLORED  CHILDREN'S 
CATECHISM 

Who  made  the  land? 

And  who  made  the  sea? 
Who  made  the  black  man? 

And  who  made  him  free? 
Abraham  Lin'cum  made  the  land, 

Abraham  Lin'cum  made  the  sea, 
Abraham  Lin'cum  made  the  black  man 

And  Abraham  Lin'cum  made  him  free. 


Who  made  the  day? 

And  who  made  the  night? 
Who  made  the  black? 

And  who  made  the  white? 
Abraham  Lin'cum  made  the  day, 

Abraham  Lin'cum  made  the  night, 
Abraham  Lin'cum  made  the  black 

And  Abraham  Lin'cum  made  the  white. 

Who  made  the  hands? 

And  who  made  the  mouth? 
Who  made  the  north? 

And  who  made  the  south? 
Abraham  Lin'cum  made  the  hands, 

Abraham  Lin'cum  made  the  mouth, 
Abraham  Lin'cum  made  the  north 

And  Abraham  Lin'cum  made  the  south. 

l67 


Neffro  Poems,  Melodies 


WHEN  THE  STEAMBOAT  COMES 
ALONG 

Captain  blow  the  whistle — 

Captain   blow   it  long, 
For  I  want  to  hear  the  whistle 

When  the  steamboat  comes  along. 

Captain  blow  the  whistle 

Let  it  sing  a  song — 
For  I  want  to  hear  the  whistle 

When  the  steamboat  comes  along. 

The  tide  is  running  seaward — 
And  the  tide  is  running  strong, 

But  I  want  to  hear  the  whistle 

When  the  steamboat  comes  along. 

The  driftwood  and  the  sand  bar 
They  sound  the  signal  gong, 

And  you  always  hear  the  whistle 
When  the  steamboat  comes  along. 

So  Captain  blow  the  whistle — 
And  Captain  don't  be  long, 

For  I  want  to  hear  the  whistle 

When  the  steamboat  comes  along. 


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